Search
Module:
Directory

   Desktop Functions:

   Smart Device Functions:


Show Recent Changes
Subscribe (RSS)
Misc. Pages
Comments
FAQ
Helpful Tools
Playground
Suggested Reading
Website TODO List
Download Visual Studio Add-In

SetWindowPos (user32)
 
.
Summary

C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
static extern bool SetWindowPos(IntPtr hWnd, IntPtr hWndInsertAfter, int X, int Y, int cx, int cy, SetWindowPosFlags uFlags);

VB.NET Signature:

<DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError:=True)> _
Private Shared Function SetWindowPos(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As IntPtr, ByVal X As Integer, ByVal Y As Integer, ByVal cx As Integer, ByVal cy As Integer, ByVal uFlags As SetWindowPosFlags) As Boolean
End Function

VB Signature

Public Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32.dll" _
         (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
          ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, _
          ByVal X As Long, _
          ByVal Y As Long, _
          ByVal cx As Long, _
          ByVal cy As Long, _
          ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long

User-Defined Types:

SetWindowPosFlags

C# Constants:

static readonly IntPtr HWND_TOPMOST = new IntPtr(-1);
static readonly IntPtr HWND_NOTOPMOST = new IntPtr(-2);
static readonly IntPtr HWND_TOP = new IntPtr(0);
static readonly IntPtr HWND_BOTTOM = new IntPtr(1);

/// <summary>
/// Window handles (HWND) used for hWndInsertAfter
/// </summary>
public static class HWND
{
   public static IntPtr
   NoTopMost = new IntPtr(-2),
   TopMost = new IntPtr(-1),
   Top = new IntPtr(0),
   Bottom = new IntPtr(1);
}

/// <summary>
/// SetWindowPos Flags
/// </summary>
public static class SWP
{
   public static readonly int
   NOSIZE = 0x0001,
   NOMOVE = 0x0002,
   NOZORDER = 0x0004,
   NOREDRAW = 0x0008,
   NOACTIVATE = 0x0010,
   DRAWFRAME = 0x0020,
   FRAMECHANGED = 0x0020,
   SHOWWINDOW = 0x0040,
   HIDEWINDOW = 0x0080,
   NOCOPYBITS = 0x0100,
   NOOWNERZORDER = 0x0200,
   NOREPOSITION = 0x0200,
   NOSENDCHANGING = 0x0400,
   DEFERERASE = 0x2000,
   ASYNCWINDOWPOS = 0x4000;
}

VB.NET Constants:

Private ReadOnly HWND_BOTTOM As New IntPtr(1)
Private ReadOnly HWND_NOTOPMOST As New IntPtr(-2)
Private ReadOnly HWND_TOP As New IntPtr(0)
Private ReadOnly HWND_TOPMOST As New IntPtr(-1)

Notes:

HWND_TOP will bring a window to the front of the Z-Order only if the thread is in the foreground. Otherwise it will bring the window to the front of the thread's Z-order.

Alternative Managed API:

Use the System.Windows.Forms.Form.TopMost property.

Documentation

C# enumerations / flags:

    /// <summary>
    ///     Special window handles
    /// </summary>
    public enum SpecialWindowHandles
    {
        // ReSharper disable InconsistentNaming
        /// <summary>
        ///     Places the window at the top of the Z order.
        /// </summary>
        HWND_TOP = 0,
        /// <summary>
        ///     Places the window at the bottom of the Z order. If the hWnd parameter identifies a topmost window, the window loses its topmost status and is placed at the bottom of all other windows.
        /// </summary>
        HWND_BOTTOM = 1,
        /// <summary>
        ///     Places the window above all non-topmost windows. The window maintains its topmost position even when it is deactivated.
        /// </summary>
        HWND_TOPMOST = -1,
        /// <summary>
        ///     Places the window above all non-topmost windows (that is, behind all topmost windows). This flag has no effect if the window is already a non-topmost window.
        /// </summary>
        HWND_NOTOPMOST = -2
        // ReSharper restore InconsistentNaming
    }

    [Flags]
    public enum SetWindowPosFlags : uint
    {
        // ReSharper disable InconsistentNaming

        /// <summary>
        ///     If the calling thread and the thread that owns the window are attached to different input queues, the system posts the request to the thread that owns the window. This prevents the calling thread from blocking its execution while other threads process the request.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_ASYNCWINDOWPOS = 0x4000,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Prevents generation of the WM_SYNCPAINT message.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_DEFERERASE = 0x2000,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Draws a frame (defined in the window's class description) around the window.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_DRAWFRAME = 0x0020,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Applies new frame styles set using the SetWindowLong function. Sends a WM_NCCALCSIZE message to the window, even if the window's size is not being changed. If this flag is not specified, WM_NCCALCSIZE is sent only when the window's size is being changed.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_FRAMECHANGED = 0x0020,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Hides the window.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_HIDEWINDOW = 0x0080,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Does not activate the window. If this flag is not set, the window is activated and moved to the top of either the topmost or non-topmost group (depending on the setting of the hWndInsertAfter parameter).
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOACTIVATE = 0x0010,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Discards the entire contents of the client area. If this flag is not specified, the valid contents of the client area are saved and copied back into the client area after the window is sized or repositioned.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOCOPYBITS = 0x0100,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Retains the current position (ignores X and Y parameters).
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOMOVE = 0x0002,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Does not change the owner window's position in the Z order.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOOWNERZORDER = 0x0200,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Does not redraw changes. If this flag is set, no repainting of any kind occurs. This applies to the client area, the nonclient area (including the title bar and scroll bars), and any part of the parent window uncovered as a result of the window being moved. When this flag is set, the application must explicitly invalidate or redraw any parts of the window and parent window that need redrawing.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOREDRAW = 0x0008,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Same as the SWP_NOOWNERZORDER flag.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOREPOSITION = 0x0200,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Prevents the window from receiving the WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING message.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOSENDCHANGING = 0x0400,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Retains the current size (ignores the cx and cy parameters).
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOSIZE = 0x0001,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Retains the current Z order (ignores the hWndInsertAfter parameter).
        /// </summary>
        SWP_NOZORDER = 0x0004,

        /// <summary>
        ///     Displays the window.
        /// </summary>
        SWP_SHOWWINDOW = 0x0040,

        // ReSharper restore InconsistentNaming
    }

C# Code Sample

    public static void MoveWindowToMonitor(int monitor)
    {
        var windowHandler = GetActiveWindowHandle();

        var windowRec = GetWindowRect(windowHandler);
        // When I move a window to a different monitor it subtracts 16 from the Width and 38 from the Height, Not sure if this is on my system or others.
        SetWindowPos(windowHandler, (IntPtr)SpecialWindowHandles.HWND_TOP, Screen.AllScreens[monitor].WorkingArea.Left,
             Screen.AllScreens[monitor].WorkingArea.Top, windowRec.Size.Width + 16, windowRec.Size.Height + 38,
             SetWindowPosFlags.SWP_SHOWWINDOW);
    }

C# WPF Remarks

If you use Windows Presentation Foundation you'll need WindowInteropHelper to get Window handle.

Make sure you referenced PresentationFramework assembly.

Insert this into Using block

    using System.Windows.Interop;

Create instance of WindowInteropHelper

    WindowInteropHelper winHelp = new WindowInteropHelper(target);

Then use winHelp.Handle insted of GetActiveWindowHandle().

To bad that this cannot be resized out of the fixed screen resolution size.

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).

 
Access PInvoke.net directly from VS:
Terms of Use
Find References
Show Printable Version
Revisions