PRB: App Desktop Toolbars Must Have WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW Style

ID: Q132965

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK)

SYMPTOMS

A problem can occur when an Application Desktop Toolbar (AppBar) is registered and the original position is set. The system reserves the desktop space the AppBar requested by moving all other shell objects and windows out of that rectangle. The problem is that the system then moves the AppBar window out of that rectangle as well.

CAUSE

When an AppBar requests some area on the desktop to occupy, the shell enumerates the windows in the task list and moves those windows outside of the newly reserved area. If your AppBar window appears in the task list it too is moved outside of the area.

RESOLUTION

When creating an Application Desktop Toolbar, the AppBar window must have the WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW window style for the shell to handle the AppBar window correctly. The WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW style prevents the AppBar window from appearing in the task list. The WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW style can also be used because it includes the WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW style.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: AppBar

Keywords          : kbAppToolBar kbNTOS400 kbWinOS95 kbWinOS98 kbshell 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: January 1, 1999