Shell Replacement - How to replace Windows taskbar

Question

3.50/5 (4 votes)

See more:

I'm creating a custom windows shell and I'm looking for code examples on replacing the taskbar. If you kill the Windows shell (explorer.exe), then running applications that become minimized are placed along the bottom of the screen. I need to be able to override this default behavior and manage the mimimized applications in a custom toolbar. I am looking for a way to tell Windows to notify my toolbar when applications are minimized and let me handle how they are displayed and not use Windows default location.

Posted 9-Dec-10 5:55am

Bryan J Shaw

Add a Solution

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

mbue · Answer 1 · 2010-12-10T05:13:00

1.) Use the function EnumDesktopWindows to examine all top-level windows.
2.) Call the function SetWindowsHookEx with WH_SHELL parameter.
3.) The hook has to be inside a dll for a system wide hook.
Good luck.
btw: the windows shell has too many function you can't replace in your lifetime. for instance: tray windows and so on.