Yet another MDI Form question

Hey all,

Does anyone know if it is possible to load an external application (such as a dos prompt, or notepad.exe) as a child form to an MDI parent?

If it was possible, you would get the window's handle and use
SetParent to make the window a child to the MDI form.
But no, I don't know if it is possible.

Yes, it is possible. I opened notepad (no file) and added the
following code to my MDI form:


' This example is assuming you have notepad
' open with the title being "Untitled - Notepad".

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function SetParent Lib "user32" _
(ByVal hWndChild As Long, _
ByVal hWndNewParent As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" _
(ByVal lpClassName As String, _
ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long

Private Sub MDIForm_Load()

Dim lngNotepad As Long

' Get notepad's window handle...
lngNotepad = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - Notepad")

' Place it inside the MDI form...
SetParent lngNotepad, Me.hWnd

Me.WindowState = vbMaximized

End Sub


It placed Notepad in my MDI form. I had to maximize to see it
though. It was in the lower-right corner and the scrollbars don't
scroll. :(

You could use the SetWindowPos function to make sure
the new child window is viewable to the user. :)

Originally posted by Agent
Yes, it is possible. I opened notepad (no file) and added the
following code to my MDI form:


' This example is assuming you have notepad
' open with the title being "Untitled - Notepad".

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function SetParent Lib "user32" _
(ByVal hWndChild As Long, _
ByVal hWndNewParent As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" _
(ByVal lpClassName As String, _
ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long

Private Sub MDIForm_Load()

Dim lngNotepad As Long

' Get notepad's window handle...
lngNotepad = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - Notepad")

' Place it inside the MDI form...
SetParent lngNotepad, Me.hWnd

Me.WindowState = vbMaximized

End Sub


It placed Notepad in my MDI form. I had to maximize to see it
though. It was in the lower-right corner and the scrollbars don't
scroll. :(

You could use the SetWindowPos function to make sure
the new child window is viewable to the user. :)



Thanks man, that helps alot. I got it to work also. the operation is a little messy but I think I can clean it up with the setwindowpos like you said. Also the minimize seems to send it to lala-land.

I'll figure it out... thanks again!