Floating window without active status

[andrej]

Hi,

I want to create a window that behaves exactly like the "functions palette window" in Labview:

- opens like a floating window

- the window has no title bar

- user can interact (click, type) with controls in the window

- the window doesn't take "active status" (focus) from the caller window - the title bar of the caller window must be "active" and not grey out as it is normally if another windows is opened on top of the caller

I've been searching for the solution, but was not able to found it.

[tst]

I'm not sure if that last part is possible because of how LV manages its windows. I don't remember all the details, but you could try looking for this discussion from a few years back - http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Win-API-WS-EX-NOACTIVATE-Window-Style-Problem/m-p/1058974#M470220

[andrej]

Based on the discussion (http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Win-API-WS-EX-NOACTIVATE-Window-Style-Problem/m-p/1058974#M470220) this is not possible in LV.

Or maybe has something changed in the last years?

[zou]

> - user can interact (click, type) with controls in the window

Only the active window gets the type message.

You can't type into this window if it's not active.

[andrej]

This is not completely true, well it looks that for LV it is.

With Window Style WS_EX_NOACTIVATE (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff700543(v=vs.85).aspx) you can create a window that is not active, but can catch mouse and keyboard events. Examples of such windows are LV Functions Palette and on-screen keyboard.

[zou]

That's common sense for Window programmers.

LabVIEW front panel is just another window, nothing more, nothing less.

You can make a window has WS_EX_NOACTIVATE style, you won't be able to type in it afterword.

You can try this on Notepad.

Both LV function Palette, and on-screen keyboard work with click.  NO typping.

You can click on a window even it has WS_EX_NOACTIVATE style.