How to get a reference to running program (not LV-based)?

[fomine]

Hello,

I need to create an LV application that will:

-Run external, not LV-based executable. It has a UI window that will open

-Open FP(no title, menus, etc) and position it right under the UI

-If user moves main UI, LV app FP follows the window

-if user closes main UI, LV app closes and terminates.

-LV app should not show in taskbar

So, essentially I need to develop an app that will be addon to an existing GUI, so that together they look and behave as one single UI.

The main thing I'm struggling now with is how to get a reference to running UI that I call using System exec.vi

Please help! 🙂

[smercurio_fc · Accepted solution]

What operating system? If you're on Windows you can try to use the Windows API. Specifically, FindWindow to get a reference to both windows, and SetParent to set the parent of one of the windows. This example give you the basic idea.

[Matthew_Kelton]

You can also use the SetWindow API call to modify the other UI to not show its window frame and title bar.  This will make the UI not look like a window in a window.  If you don't need its file menu available, SetWindow can also hide that.  Then let LabVIEW shut down the other EXE when the user closes your program.

If you don't want to do that, you can use the FindWindow in a loop to detect when the other app closes.

[fomine]

Thanks a lot guys, that should get me going.

I'll post again if will hit any roadblocks.