How to make a window flash

[ctardi]

I am trying to find code to make a window flash as a notification that it needs the user's attention, such as messenger programs like Skype use.  Would anyone happen to have a vi laying around that does this?  I know how to do it in visual basic, but have not wrapped my head around  how to do the same thing in labview.

Cheers.

[GovBob]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'flash' but you could certainly change the background color to get there attention.

See:

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/0DDBDB2FE2F54A5286256918006D7BB9

Many other properties available too.

Hope this helps.

[Darin.K · Accepted solution]

Check out the HWND Data Type example of the Call DLL.vi example that ships with LV.

[GovBob]

Nice find Darin

[falkpl]

You can also alternate between 0 and 100% fp transparency (new to 8.0?). Alternatly you can use the pane method ->object highlight (new to 8.6).

See atached.

[ctardi]

Not quite what I was looking for...
I am trying to achieve the task bar item flashing orange, I'm not really sure how to describe it better than that...does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[MattWhitlock]

Hi ctardi,

Darin above had the solution you're looking for.  If you go to example finder, search for dll and run Call DLL.vi, it will point you to the DLL call to flash the window title in the taskbar. If you run it, select HWND (for Windows Handle, I belive), and click Open Example VI for the Current Data Type.

I had assumed that it'd be a Windows .DLL call, but didn't realize the Call DLL.vi was so good.  Great find Darin.

[RavensFan]

Well you did ask for "how to make a window flash" and not "how to make the taskbar flash"

At this site http://bytes.com/topic/c-sharp/answers/482858-taskbar-behavior-appearance I found the FlashWindow function mentioned.

[Darin.K]

As a father of a two year old, I am all-to-familiar with Skype, and therefore knew what the flashing behaviour should be.  You may not notice since the example flashes the current VI so it happens to be open when you run it, but it does flash the window and the taskbar (mine is still orange).  Change the name of the VI passed to the DLL call to one in memory but minimized, run the example and watch the taskbar flash away.

About the example, Call DLL is the best example I have come across so far (the new PDE ones are pretty cool, perhaps a close second).  Whoever wrote it should have been given a raise and assigned to teach other people at NI what a useful example looks like.

[Tim30]

This sounds perfect for what I'm looking for... but i cant find the "Call DLL.vi" in the example finder.  I understand its supposed to be in the directory structure under "dll" -> "data passing" -> "call Native code.llb" and the call DLL.vi should be under that library ?  I don't have it.  I actually don't even have the "data passing " sub folder.

Using - LabVIEW Full 2015... is it not included ?  do i need to install something else ?