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how to make app always on top

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Join Date: Dec 2004

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odee

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how to make app always on top

Oct 31st, 2006

How can i make the windows application always on top of every application, including those which are in full screen?

Thanks for any replies.

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Join Date: Oct 2006

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wednesday

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Re: how to make app always on top

Oct 31st, 2006

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Originally Posted by odee

How can i make the windows application always on top of every application, including those which are in full screen?

Thanks for any replies.

Hi

When you scroll down on form's property you will see an option TopMost. You just have to set that to true...(Make sure your forms are either maximized / same size)

Hope it will help!

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odee

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Re: how to make app always on top

Oct 31st, 2006

Thanks for the reply wednesday but it only works when the other app is in windowed mode, it doesn't work when it is in full screen.

This is what i want to do. When i'm using an application, which is in full screen mode(ex. games), i want to be able to use a text editor. The TopMost property in my app doesn't work when i'm using an application in full screen mode.

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waynespangler waynespangler is offline

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Re: how to make app always on top

Oct 31st, 2006

Try this. Add a button or menu item to your form and add this code.

 Help with Code Tags 
 VB.NET Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Me.TopMost = False
        Dim proc As Process = Process.Start("notepad.exe")
        proc.WaitForExit()
        proc.Close()
        Me.TopMost = True
    End Sub
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Me.TopMost = False
        Dim proc As Process = Process.Start("notepad.exe")
        proc.WaitForExit()
        proc.Close()
        Me.TopMost = True
    End Sub

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Join Date: Nov 2006

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NedFrankly NedFrankly is offline

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Re: how to make app always on top

Nov 3rd, 2006

Wayne's technique is about the only way you're going to pull this off if you're using 'real' windows.

If you've noticed in many games which 'take over your screen', the developers actually recreate Notepad within the game if text editing is required - everything 'Windows' in a well formed Full Screen game has to be reverse engineered and recreated within the full screen environment.

Even with Wayne's idea, if your app takes over resolution as well (as many games do) then the switch back to Windows mode is going to look, well, weird. You've probably alt-tabbed out of a game at some point and seen humongous icons on your desktop - that's the effect.

Try the suggestion, but consider how you might improve upon it by creating your own Virtual Notepad which works within your game.

Happy coding!

Ned