How to set focus on other application based on process name VB

Question

How can I set focus on other application based on process name in VB2010?

What I can do now is set focus on other application based on windows name using FindWindow then use SetForegroundWindow. Below is what I currently have

        Dim theHandle As IntPtr
        theHandle = FindWindow(Nothing, "Gmail: Email from Google")
        If theHandle <> IntPtr.Zero Then
        SetForegroundWindow(theHandle)

The problem is that FindWindow need exact windows name to works and I don't always know the exact name. (Because my program open up different website that the user enter, so I have no control over they site they open). So is there anyway that I can set focus using the process name instead? (in this case firefox.exe) Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 31 '12 at 04:55

1

You can use System.Diagnostics.Process to look up a process by name and then find the window title:

For Each app As Process In Process.GetProcessesByName("firefox")
    Dim theHandle As IntPtr = FindWindow(Nothing, app.MainWindowTitle)
    If theHandle <> IntPtr.Zero Then
        SetForegroundWindow(theHandle)
    End If
Next

Use the static GetProcessesByName method and then the MainWindowTitle property. For this sample you would need Import System.Diagnostics to import the right namespace.

edited Jan 31 '12 at 04:55

Cody Gray - on strike

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answered Jan 27 '12 at 07:12

Abraham

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Please forgive the syntax if it's off; I don't have VB Express installed on this PC. – Abraham Jan 27 '12 at 07:13
Incredibly fragile; better hope they don't change the name! It's already happened once. – Cody Gray - on strike Jan 31 '12 at 04:55
@Cody I can't disagree. However, the OP asked how to set focus based on process name. – Abraham Feb 02 '12 at 21:08

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 14 '16 at 10:20

Private Sub ActivateApp(ByVal pID As Integer)
        Dim p As Process = Process.GetProcessById(pID)
        If p IsNot Nothing Then
            SetForegroundWindow(p.MainWindowHandle)
        End If
    End Sub

Then use this:

ActivateApp(System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess.Id)
SendKeys.SendWait("~")

How to set focus on other application based on process name VB

2 Answers2

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