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I am working on an automation project which requires me to search for an acrobat process and then bring it to foreground. I am using Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Python. I search for that specific PDF file in the process list and then I try to bring that window to foreground.

My code runs fine when the server is open and active. As soon as it gets minimized or locked, it doesn't work. Specifically, the line SetForegroundWindow() does not work and throws an error "(0, 'SetForegroundWindow', 'No error message is available')".

Next, I went through many examples listed here and someone suggested to use 'Alt' tab before that line. Tried, didn't work. Then I used ShowWindow() according to an another user but then again the same error is coming. Now, I am totally stuck.

I have already viewed many threads related to the problem such as: 1. SetForegroundWindow doesn't work with minimized process 2. Bring to forward window when minimized 3. Bring to forward window when minimized

I tried MainWindowHandle could fix the error but I am not able to implement it in python.

Also, I installed pywinauto and used findwindows and SetForegroundWindow function of pywinauto. It works well when server is active but as soon as we minimze or lock the server, it doesn't work and gives the same error "(0, 'SetForegroundWindow', 'No error message is available')".

Now, I am totally out of options. Any ideas/suggestions?

Here is the snippet:

import win32gui,win32con
import win32com.client
import time

time.sleep(3)
def windowEnumerationHandler(hwnd, top_windows):
    if win32gui.IsWindowVisible(hwnd) and win32gui.GetWindowText(hwnd)!='':
        top_windows.append((hwnd, win32gui.GetWindowText(hwnd)))

results = []
top_windows = []
file_name_of_pdf = "ARW_AR_2016.pdf"
win32gui.EnumWindows(windowEnumerationHandler, top_windows)

for i in top_windows:

 if i[1].find(file_name_of_pdf[:len(file_name_of_pdf)-4])>-1:

    print(i)
    shell = win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell")
    win32gui.ShowWindow(i[0],9)
    try:
        shell.SendKeys('%')
        win32gui.ShowWindow(i[0], win32con.SW_RESTORE)                                 
        win32gui.SetForegroundWindow(i[0])            
    except Exception as e:
        print(1,e)
        try:
            shell.SendKeys('%')                
            win32gui.SetForegroundWindow(i[0])
        except Exception as r:
            print(2,r)
            pass
Ben
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Prabal
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  • What does "As soon as it gets minimized or locked" mean? What gets locked? The desktop? What gets minimised? Your app, or Acrobat? – Ben Mar 08 '19 at 12:19
  • So I am working on remote desktop and local desktop. If I run the code and minimize the server then it doesn't work. Able to get it? – Prabal Mar 08 '19 at 12:41
  • "Server" is a word which can mean many things. When you say "minimize the server" do you mean "minimise the RDP client main window"? What exactly are you minimising? – Ben Mar 08 '19 at 13:01
  • Yes, RDP client main window is minimized. – Prabal Mar 08 '19 at 13:12
  • And is this python code running on the local machine, or within the RDP session? – Ben Mar 08 '19 at 14:23
  • Possible duplicate of [SetForegroundWindow in Remote Desktop Connection](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10791709/setforegroundwindow-in-remote-desktop-connection) – Ben Mar 08 '19 at 14:31
  • I have linked to a duplicate question with a correct answer. If that answer helps you please up-vote it. – Ben Mar 08 '19 at 14:32
  • @Ben : This code is running within the RDP session. I have gone through the duplicate link that you've attached. It says that the context of GUI automation is meaningless when the RDP window gets minimized. Hence, there seems to be no solution to this. We should follow the master-slave approach. Isn't it? – Prabal Mar 11 '19 at 08:35
  • The solution is: Don't minimize the RDP window. You can make it small, and move it off the screen, but don't minimize it. – Ben Mar 11 '19 at 10:23

1 Answers1

6

The Remote Execution Guide should explain everything you can do with this situation.

Vasily Ryabov
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