Loading a WPF Window without showing it

user_41071 0
Viewed 30010

I create a global hot key to show a window by PInvoking RegisterHotKey(). But to do this I need that window's HWND, which doesn't exist until the window is loaded, that means shown for the first time. But I don't want to show the window before I can set the hot key. Is there a way to create a HWND for that window that is invisible to the user?

hwnd window wpf
12 Answers

I've noticed that the last thing that happens when the window is being initialized, is the change of WindowState, if it differs from normal. So, you can actually make use of it:

public void InitializeWindow(Window window) {
    window.Top = Int32.MinValue;
    window.Left = Int32.MinValue;

    window.Width = 0;
    window.Height = 0;

    window.ShowActivated = false;
    window.ShowInTaskbar = false;
    window.Opacity = 0;

    window.StateChanged += OnBackgroundStateChanged;

    window.WindowStyle = WindowStyle.None;
}

public void ShowWindow(Window window) {
    window.Show();
    window.WindowState = WindowState.Maximized;
}

protected bool isStateChangeFirst = true;
protected void OnBackgroundStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs e) {
    if (isStateChangeFirst) {
        isStateChangeFirst = false;

        window.Top = 300;
        window.Left = 200;

        window.Width = 760;
        window.Height = 400;

        window.WindowState = WindowState.Normal;

        window.ShowInTaskbar = true;
        window.Opacity = 1;
        window.Activate();
    }
}

That works fair enough for me. And it does not require working with any handles and stuff, and, more importantly, does not require to have a custom class for a window. Which is great for dynamically loaded XAML. And it is also a great way if you are making a fullscreen app. You do not even need to change its state back to normal or set proper width and height. Just go with

protected bool isStateChangeFirst = true;
protected void OnBackgroundStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs e) {
    if (isStateChangeFirst) {
        isStateChangeFirst = false;

        window.ShowInTaskbar = true;
        window.Opacity = 1;
        window.Activate();
    }
}

And you're done.

And even if I am wrong in my assumption that change of state is last thing done when window is being loaded, you can still change to any other event, it does not really matter.

user_70577040

Start Wpf Window in Hidden mode:

WpfWindow w = new WpfWindow() { Visibility = Visibility.Hidden };

Start Wpf Window in Visible mode:

WpfWindow w = new WpfWindow();
w.Show();
user_43913940
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