C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern bool DrawAnimatedRects(IntPtr hwnd, int idAni,
   [In] ref RECT lprcFrom, [In] ref RECT lprcTo);

User-Defined Types:

IDANI_

Notes:

Only the IDANI_CAPTION constant will result in any animation. Any other constants have not been implemented on any Windows platform!

Tips & Tricks:

Since only IDANI_CAPTION is implemented, to get the effect of IDANI_OPEN, simply swap the lprcFrom and lprcTo rectangles, but still specify the IDANI_CAPTION constant.

Sample Code:

    /// <summary>
    /// This constant is not implemented on any Windows platform!
    /// </summary>
    public const System.Int32 IDANI_OPEN = 1;

    /// <summary>
    /// The window caption will animate from lprcFrom to lprcTo.
    /// </summary>
    public const System.Int32 IDANI_CAPTION = 3;

    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.StructLayout(System.Runtime.InteropServices.LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    struct RECT
    {
      public RECT(System.Drawing.Rectangle rectangle)
      {
        Left = rectangle.Left;
        Top = rectangle.Top;
        Right = rectangle.Right;
        Bottom = rectangle.Bottom;
      }
      public RECT(System.Drawing.Point location, System.Drawing.Size size)
      {
        Left = location.X;
        Top = location.Y;
        Right = location.X + size.Width;
        Bottom = location.Y + size.Height;
      }
      public System.Int32 Left;
      public System.Int32 Top;
      public System.Int32 Right;
      public System.Int32 Bottom;
    }

    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll")]
    static extern bool DrawAnimatedRects(System.IntPtr hwnd, int idAni,
      [System.Runtime.InteropServices.In] ref RECT lprcFrom,
      [System.Runtime.InteropServices.In] ref RECT lprcTo);

    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    static extern System.IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName);

    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    static extern System.IntPtr FindWindowEx(System.IntPtr hwndParent, System.IntPtr hwndChildAfter,
      string lpszClass, string lpszWindow);

    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll")]
    static extern bool GetWindowRect(System.IntPtr hWnd, out RECT lpRect);

    /// <summary>
    /// Show or hide a form with animation.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="form">The form reference to be animated.</param>
    /// <param name="show">If true the form will be animated as if opening, otherwise as if closing.</param>
    static public void ShowHideAnimated(System.Windows.Forms.Form form, System.Boolean show)
    {
      RECT from = new RECT(form.Location, form.Size);
      RECT to;

      System.IntPtr hWnd =
        FindWindowEx(FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", null), System.IntPtr.Zero, "TrayNotifyWnd", null);

      if (hWnd != System.IntPtr.Zero)
      {
        GetWindowRect(hWnd, out to);
      }
      else
      {
        to.Left = System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.VirtualScreen.Right - form.Width;
        to.Top = System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.VirtualScreen.Bottom -
          System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.CaptionHeight -
            (System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.FrameBorderSize.Height * 2);
        to.Right = System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.VirtualScreen.Right;
        to.Bottom = System.Windows.Forms.SystemInformation.VirtualScreen.Bottom;
      }

      if (show)
      {
        DrawAnimatedRects(form.Handle, IDANI_CAPTION, ref to, ref from);
        form.Show();
      }
      else
      {
        form.Hide();
        DrawAnimatedRects(form.Handle, IDANI_CAPTION, ref from, ref to);
      }
    }

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).