DOCUMENT:Q168829 11-JAN-2001 [vbwin] TITLE :HOWTO: Get a Hierarchical List of Window Names and Classes PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows PROD/VER: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbGrpDSVBDB ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Control Creation Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Access for Windows 95, version 7.0 - Microsoft Access 97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= When trying to determine whether a child window of an application is open, you need to know whether it is a child of the main application window, a grandchild, or an independent window. This article provides a method of creating a hierarchical listing of all currently open windows and their window class names, making it easier navigating a program's window hierarchy. MORE INFORMATION ================ WARNING: Microsoft provides code examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This code is provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that the following code can be used in all situations. Microsoft does not support modifications of the code to suit customer requirements for a particular purpose. Step-by-Step Example -------------------- 1. Create a new project with a Form and a Module. 2. Add the following controls to the form: Control Name Property Value ------------------------------------------------ Command button Command1 Text box Text1 MultiLine TRUE Text box Text1 Scrollbars 2- Vertical NOTE: The MultiLine property only applies to Visual Basic. 3. Type the following code into the module: Option Explicit Public Const GW_CHILD = 5 Public Const GW_HWNDNEXT = 2 Declare Function GetWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, _ ByVal wCmd As Long) As Long Declare Function GetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowTextA" _ (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String, _ ByVal cch As Long) As Long Declare Function GetTopWindow Lib "user32" _ (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long Declare Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" _ (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpClassName As String, _ ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long 4. Add the following code to the form's module: Sub AddChildWindows(ByVal hwndParent As Long, ByVal Level As Long) Dim WT As String, CN As String, Length As Long, hwnd As Long If Level = 0 Then hwnd = hwndParent Else hwnd = GetWindow(hwndParent, GW_CHILD) End If Do While hwnd <> 0 WT = Space(256) Length = GetWindowText(hwnd, WT, 255) WT = Left$(WT, Length) CN = Space(256) Length = GetClassName(hwnd, CN, 255) CN = Left$(CN, Length) Me!Text1 = Me!Text1 & vbCrLf & String(2 * Level, ".") _ & WT & " (" & CN & ")" AddChildWindows hwnd, Level + 1 hwnd = GetWindow(hwnd, GW_HWNDNEXT) Loop End Sub Sub Command1_Click() Dim hwnd As Long hwnd = GetTopWindow(0) If hwnd <> 0 Then AddChildWindows hwnd, 0 End If End Sub 5. Visual Basic only: Run the project. Access only: Open the form. 6. Click the CommandButton. The text box will be filled with a list of windows and their children arranged in a hierarchical order. The class name will follow the window name, such as: MainWindowName (WindowClass) ..ChildWindowName (WindowClass) ....GrandchildWindowName (WindowClass) NOTE: Not all windows will have a name but all will have a Window Class. REFERENCES ========== Microsoft Windows SDK Additional query words: kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbdse kbDSupport kbVBp kbWinAPI ====================================================================== Keywords : kbGrpDSVBDB Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbAccessSearch kbZNotKeyword6 kbAccess97 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbAccess97Search kbAccess95Search kbVB400Search kbVB400 kbZNotKeyword3 kbAccess700 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.