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What I'm trying to do is to create software which will behave as windows task bar.

So my point is that I want software that will be visible above task bar and when you maximize another app window it will not go over it.

Sample image

So i want that any other software when in maximized state to be till the red line. Red line will be my software which will be visible at any time except when other software is in full screen.

So is there a way to do this. C# preferred.

What I want to know is how to do it, I presume it needs to be done through WinApi, but I don't know even how call this app behavior.

Thanks in advance.

Senad Meškin
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  • Applications can be "docked" to the left or right side of the screen (think of a "Buddy list" in an instant messenger), so perhaps you could use this technique to "dock" a window to the bottom of the screen? – qJake Sep 13 '11 at 12:55

2 Answers2

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You want to register your application as an App Bar. Use SHAppBarMessage. See this question for sample C# code.

Community
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Raymond Chen
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    So that nobody gives you the obligatory "that's WPF, this is winforms", a link to the original project that will work with winforms: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/AppBar.aspx – MusiGenesis Sep 13 '11 at 13:08
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Just something to think about: toolbars/appbars (stuff that gets integrated in the taskbar) are pretty much rendered obsolete or unusable by Windows 7's new unified taskbar.

If your potential market includes Windows 7 users it might be wise to check out the alternatives like sidebar integration or some kind of dock that sits on the opposite side of the screen wrt the taskbar.

fvu
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