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X-Window Manager like dragging and resizing of windows

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21 Sep 20051 min read 139.6K   3.1K   43   27
This article shows how to make use of a mouse hook to allow simple dragging and resizing of windows.

Introduction

Hooks are a powerful feature of Windows and can be used to trap nearly all events in the Windows environment. This example shows how to trap mouse events and implements a simple window manager. It allows you to move and resize windows, easily following the style of many window managers in the UNIX X-Window environment.

With this tool, any window on your Desktop can easily be dragged with the left-mouse button while holding down the ALT key, starting anywhere in the window's client area. In the same way, it is possible to resize any window while dragging with the right mouse-button, holding down ALT. That's in my opinion far more comfortable than aiming with the mouse for the border or a corner of the window :)

The tool consists of two parts. First the main program that loads the second part - a DLL that will subsequently be injected in other processes to trap mouse events. For details about this, you may refer to other great articles at CodeProject as for example Hooks and DLLs by Joseph M. Newcomer in the DLL-section. The main program further installs a tray icon (warning: programmer's art :) ), that allows the user to quit the tool.

History

  • 06.08.2003

    Initial version.

  • 17.04.2003

    Bug fix: proper handling of Alt-key release while dragging or sizing (thanks Whosit).

  • 10.09.2005

    Bug fix: don't move or resize windows that are maximized (thanks TWink).

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here


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Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionOK to fork? Pin
foobarz29-Dec-08 11:31
foobarz29-Dec-08 11:31 
AnswerRe: OK to fork? Pin
Markus Rollmann29-Dec-08 20:40
Markus Rollmann29-Dec-08 20:40 
AnswerRe: OK to fork? Pin
Mixelpit27-Apr-21 23:07
Mixelpit27-Apr-21 23:07 
GeneralWorks in Vista! Pin
JXON4-Sep-08 19:49
JXON4-Sep-08 19:49 
GeneralGreat! Pin
Mwob2-May-07 22:18
Mwob2-May-07 22:18 
GeneralRe: Great! Pin
AlexHaan3-May-07 0:38
AlexHaan3-May-07 0:38 
GeneralAwesome Pin
Member 399521416-Apr-07 3:34
Member 399521416-Apr-07 3:34 
GeneralPrevent Users from Resizing Windows Pin
mrtm30509-Mar-07 11:14
mrtm30509-Mar-07 11:14 
Generalis snapping possible Pin
mmanson13219-Jan-07 9:26
mmanson13219-Jan-07 9:26 
GeneralTwo suggestions Pin
Anonymous5-Oct-05 1:02
Anonymous5-Oct-05 1:02 
GeneralRe: Two suggestions Pin
Markus Rollmann5-Oct-05 1:16
Markus Rollmann5-Oct-05 1:16 
GeneralCursor shape Pin
Eric Lapouge22-Sep-05 21:32
Eric Lapouge22-Sep-05 21:32 
GeneralBugs and Improvements Pin
7-Sep-05 13:54
suss7-Sep-05 13:54 
GeneralRe: Bugs and Improvements Pin
Markus Rollmann10-Sep-05 0:30
Markus Rollmann10-Sep-05 0:30 
GeneralRe: Bugs and Improvements Pin
bzBetty11-Sep-05 14:47
bzBetty11-Sep-05 14:47 
Questionbug? Pin
p1ayer7-Jul-03 19:27
p1ayer7-Jul-03 19:27 
AnswerRe: bug? Pin
Markus Rollmann7-Jul-03 20:23
Markus Rollmann7-Jul-03 20:23 
GeneralGreat technique Pin
Member 20158717-Apr-03 2:26
Member 20158717-Apr-03 2:26 
Generalvery creative, so 5 points! Pin
Zhefu Zhang17-Apr-03 2:13
Zhefu Zhang17-Apr-03 2:13 
General(update) Pin
Markus Rollmann17-Apr-03 1:59
Markus Rollmann17-Apr-03 1:59 
GeneralRe: (update) Pin
eidylon17-Apr-03 3:37
eidylon17-Apr-03 3:37 
GeneralDoesnt forget right away Pin
eidylon16-Apr-03 10:31
eidylon16-Apr-03 10:31 
GeneralRe: Doesnt forget right away Pin
Markus Rollmann16-Apr-03 10:40
Markus Rollmann16-Apr-03 10:40 
GeneralRe: Doesnt forget right away Pin
eidylon16-Apr-03 10:47
eidylon16-Apr-03 10:47 
GeneralRe: Doesnt forget right away Pin
Markus Rollmann16-Apr-03 10:59
Markus Rollmann16-Apr-03 10:59 

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