Determine if Excel instance and Workbook has focus

Question

I have a subroutine invoked via Application.OnTime scheduled call.

How can I determine with Excel VBA whether the subroutine's workbook is the focused application/process in Windows?

(If it is not the active application then I will run a code that blocks the process for a little bit. If it is active I don't want to do that because I may be doing work in the workbook that I don't want interrupted.)

Answer 1

Try this. I tested it and it seems to work.

On module level:

Declare PtrSafe Function GetActiveWindow Lib "user32" () As LongPtr

For testing purposes I wrote these 2 subs:

Sub Test()
    If GetActiveWindow <> 0 Then
          'Application in focus
          Debug.Print "Focus"
    Else
          'Application not in focus
          Debug.Print " No focus"
    End If
End Sub

Sub Timer()
    Application.OnTime Procedure:="Test", EarliestTime:=Now + TimeValue("00:00:10")
End Sub

Now, try like this:

1. Run Timer (from the immediate window for example).
2. Before the timer reaches the 10 seconds set, switch to another app like your internet browser for example. Wait a bit for the time to complete.
3. Look at what the console displays:

• If you stay on the excel window, the console will display "Focus".
• If you switch window it will say "No focus".