C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
static extern bool EnumChildWindows(IntPtr hwndParent, EnumWindowsProc lpEnumFunc, IntPtr lParam);

public delegate bool Win32Callback(IntPtr hwnd, IntPtr lParam);
[DllImport("user32.Dll")]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern IntPtr EnumChildWindows(IntPtr parentHandle, Win32Callback callback,IntPtr lParam);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
Private Shared Function EnumChildWindows(ByVal hWndParent As System.IntPtr, _
   ByVal lpEnumFunc As EnumWindowsProc, ByVal lParam As Integer) As Boolean
    ' Leave function empty    
End Function

User-Defined Types:

EnumWindowsProc

Notes:

The corresponding unmanaged return type is a 4-byte Win32 'BOOL', so mark the method with the MarshalAsAttribute(UnmanagedType.Bool).

Tips & Tricks:

http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/NET/Code/Libraries/Windows/Enumerating_Windows/article.asp has a nice article

Sample Code (C#):

    [DllImport("user32")]
    [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
    public static extern bool EnumChildWindows(IntPtr window, EnumWindowProc callback, IntPtr i);

    /// <summary>
    /// Returns a list of child windows
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="parent">Parent of the windows to return</param>
    /// <returns>List of child windows</returns>
    public static List<IntPtr> GetChildWindows(IntPtr parent)
    {
    List<IntPtr> result = new List<IntPtr>();
    GCHandle listHandle = GCHandle.Alloc(result);
    try
    {
        EnumWindowProc childProc = new EnumWindowProc(EnumWindow);
        EnumChildWindows(parent, childProc, GCHandle.ToIntPtr(listHandle));
    }
    finally
    {
        if (listHandle.IsAllocated)
        listHandle.Free();
    }
    return result;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Callback method to be used when enumerating windows.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="handle">Handle of the next window</param>
    /// <param name="pointer">Pointer to a GCHandle that holds a reference to the list to fill</param>
    /// <returns>True to continue the enumeration, false to bail</returns>
    private static bool EnumWindow(IntPtr handle, IntPtr pointer)
    {
    GCHandle gch = GCHandle.FromIntPtr(pointer);
    List<IntPtr> list = gch.Target as List<IntPtr>;
    if (list == null)
    {
        throw new InvalidCastException("GCHandle Target could not be cast as List<IntPtr>");
    }
    list.Add(handle);
    //  You can modify this to check to see if you want to cancel the operation, then return a null here
    return true;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Delegate for the EnumChildWindows method
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="hWnd">Window handle</param>
    /// <param name="parameter">Caller-defined variable; we use it for a pointer to our list</param>
    /// <returns>True to continue enumerating, false to bail.</returns>
    public delegate bool EnumWindowProc(IntPtr hWnd, IntPtr parameter);

Sample Code (VB.net):

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Public Class NativeMethods

    <DllImport("User32.dll")> _
    Private Shared Function EnumChildWindows _
    (ByVal WindowHandle As IntPtr, ByVal Callback As EnumWindowProcess, _
    ByVal lParam As IntPtr) As Boolean
    End Function
    Public Delegate Function EnumWindowProcess(ByVal Handle As IntPtr, ByVal Parameter As IntPtr) As Boolean
    Public Shared Function GetChildWindows(ByVal ParentHandle As IntPtr) As IntPtr()
    Dim ChildrenList As New List(Of IntPtr)
    Dim ListHandle As GCHandle = GCHandle.Alloc(ChildrenList)
    Try
        EnumChildWindows(ParentHandle, AddressOf EnumWindow, GCHandle.ToIntPtr(ListHandle))
    Finally
        If ListHandle.IsAllocated Then ListHandle.Free()
    End Try
    Return ChildrenList.ToArray
    End Function
    Private Shared Function EnumWindow(ByVal Handle As IntPtr, ByVal Parameter As IntPtr) As Boolean
    Dim ChildrenList As List(Of IntPtr) = GCHandle.FromIntPtr(Parameter).Target
    If ChildrenList Is Nothing Then Throw New Exception("GCHandle Target could not be cast as List(Of IntPtr)")
    ChildrenList.Add(Handle)
    Return True
    End Function

End Class

Alternative Managed API:

The ManagedWindowsApi project (http://mwinapi.sourceforge.net) provides a

method ManagedWinapi.SystemWindow.FilterDescendantWindows().

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).