Tips for Clean run-time application

[winterishere8]

Hi Folks

I am trying to develop a stand-alone tool using LabVIEW 7.0. My application interfaces with atleast 2 external executables which in turn talk to hardware. I use system exec.vi and activeX to run the external software. There are always run-time pop-ups from these external packages. I've tried using various options (run minimized, windows - hide window.vi, minimize window.vi and so on). These do not seem to suppress the pop-ups. My guess is something inside these routines have an option like 'make it front-most' or something like this. Is there a way that I develop my stand-alone application such that there are no other pop-ups other than what I want to pop-up ? I am guessing there must be a clean way to make a stand-alone tool like developing a package for a company or so. Let me know guys. Thanks !

[tbob]

System Exec has a Run Minimized boolean input. Set it to True. However the app that it calls may do something to pop up its own window. Two ways around that: 1. Rewrite the app to not pop up. 2. Send keystrokes from labview to minimize the app (don't know what the keystrokes are but there is a way to minimize the current app with the keyboard). As for the ActiveX call, isn't there a method or property that you can invoke to minimize the app?

[winterishere8]

Thanks for the reply Bob. The application pops up even after I set it to run minimized....Also there is no function in activex and that's why I used window handles to suppress these windows but no use...

[tbob]

Without rewriting the exe and ActiveX applications, there isn't much you can do. Using windows handles to set focus and sending keystrokes is all that is left to try.