Open Front Panel without another VI? Possible Or not?

[Drums]

I have a program that is hidden from the task bar and screen. I want to use
Key navigation to open window but labview
seems to have trouble doing the most basic things. I tried invoke node but
the problem is when the window is hidden or minimized the key navigation no
longer works.Maybe I am stupid but the program is still running so why does
the front panel need to be open for key navigation to work? I am using
Labview 7.1. I don't want the app visible in anyway unless I press a short
cut key to open the window. Is this not possible?
Seems silly not to allow such a basic function but I tried just about
everything. Thanks for any help.

[RavensFan]

---

I tried invoke node but
the problem is when the window is hidden or minimized the key navigation no
longer works.Maybe I am stupid but the program is still running so why does
the front panel need to be open for key navigation to work? I am using
Labview 7.1.

---

I believe why this isn't working for you is that when the app is hidden or minimized, it does not have the focus in Windows.  Another application is in the foreground (such as e-mail, Excel, etc.)  When you do the shortcut, the application that is in the foreground and has the focus is receiving the command.

I don't know how you would do it, but you would need to have a shortcut that would work within the operating system to bring the app to the foreground, execute the key navigation, and then send it back to the background either minimized or hidden.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Instead of key navigation that requires you to have focus on the front panel, use the Input Device functions to monitor the keyboard. You can check for any key comination that you want but you should avoid ones that other windows programs would also be using.