How does one get the window handle of a Java Swing app in NSIS?

Question

I'm using NSIS to create an update installer for a Swing based Java application. I need to know whether the application is already running and abort the installation if so. I asked this here, but it essentially boils down to identifying the application by its window title.

NSIS has a FindWindow function that takes the window handle as a compulsory parameter. Now for my question: How do you find out the window handle of a Swing app, given that you don't have Spy++ or WinSpy++, and are blocked by wonderful corporate IT from downloading additional tools? Do Java applications have a standard window handle name?

FindWindow requires a window class name and/or window title, it returns a window handle if a window matching the class/title is found... — Anders, Dec 09 '11 at 17:43

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 09 '11 at 17:48

You can use NSIS to enumerate windows, the System plugin readme has a EnumChildWindows example that is very close to the code required to enumerate top level windows.

!include LogicLib.nsh
showinstdetails show
section

System::Get "(i.r1) iss"
Pop $R0
System::Call "user32::EnumWindows(k R0,i) i.s"
loop:
    Pop $0
    StrCmp $0 "callback1" 0 done
    System::Call "user32::IsWindowVisible(ir1)i.r2"
    ${If} $2 <> 0
        System::Call "user32::GetWindowText(ir1,t.r2,i${NSIS_MAX_STRLEN})"
        System::Call "user32::GetClassName(ir1,t.r3,i${NSIS_MAX_STRLEN})"
        IntFmt $1 "0x%X" $1
        DetailPrint "$1 - [$3] $2"
    ${EndIf}
    Push 1 # callback's return value
    System::Call "$R0"
    Goto loop
done:
System::Free $R0

sectionend

If you control the Swing app code you can use other methods to check for a running instance, you can create a Win32 mutex or other named kernel objects and check for those...

Thanks, this fit the bill perfectly :) – Rex Dec 12 '11 at 05:55 — Rex, Dec 12 '11 at 05:55

How does one get the window handle of a Java Swing app in NSIS?

1 Answers1