C# Desktop App Bar (Somewhat Like a taskbar)

Question

I've been googling a lot for this one and I can't seem to find anything. Maybe it's the way that I'm wording it. So basically what I'm looking to do in C# using Windows Forms, is create a form and have it essentially take the shape of the taskbar and do the same functions as the taskbar, but it will sit above the task bar or at the top of the screen.

It can't be "ON TOP" (I'm not trying to block user buttons like the close button of a program they are using).

Autohide would be a plus.

This is the main thing I'm after: It needs to act just like the task bar. When you maximize any other window, the taskbar does not go over the top of the window, even though it is set to "on top".

In the Windows API, "Work Area" is the term used for the area of the screen that windows fill when they are maximized. That might help you get more relevant google results. — nmclean, Jul 24 '13 at 22:32

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:29

5

You'll want to use an Appbar to do this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc144177.aspx

For more information, check out here and here and here.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:29

Community

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answered Jul 24 '13 at 22:31

Forest Kunecke

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I was reading about that. C# doesn't seem to have much on it. I'll look around some more. – slcboi Jul 24 '13 at 22:45
Did you see the last link? It's a full example on CodeProject. – Forest Kunecke Jul 24 '13 at 22:47

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 24 '13 at 22:32

If you don't want to deal with C++ and Native Code (as @FKunecke correctly proposed) then you'll not find anything predefined for this. What you can do is create a form for your bar and make the visualization calculations by hand, then you can set the screen location of it. That's all. Not forcing the bar form to stay on top will not hide the other app forms so you'll get that for free.

Now, to fully implement what you want there are some problems you need to deal with, such as Taskbar location and height. Then you'll need to use some native code tricks.

C# Desktop App Bar (Somewhat Like a taskbar)

2 Answers2

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