Channel 9 Forums - Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Steve Richter — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:14:45 GMT

I have a few PCs in a warehouse that have a bar code scanner attached as a keyboard input device. The scanner is setup to automatically scan labels as they are printed on a label printer. A PC window application then captures the inputs from the scanner as labels are printed.
This solution works fine until a 2nd window pops up for some reason, taking the input focus away the capture window.

Can I config Windows somehow to never leave a certain application, or never popup another window?

( for example, I know I can shutdown explorer.exe with ctrl-shift right click. How to do that from code? )

Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Scott — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 03:05:24 GMT

@SteveRichter:I don't believe this is possible. Otherwise, every malware ever would do it.

Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Manip — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:48:28 GMT

Maybe something like this on a timer?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12984556/switchtothiswindow

Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Steve Richter — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:19:45 GMT

Can I "exit explorer" programatically just like can be done by pressing CTRL-SHIFT right click on the start button?

.... reading this :

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5689904/gracefully-exit-explorer-programmatically

Tech Off - how to dedicate PC to a single window

Manip — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:20:22 GMT

You can use GPO to disable Explorer entirely and load your app in place of it instead when the system starts. Alternatively you can do it via the registry (allowing one user to have a shell and another to not have one):

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576(v=winembedded.5).aspx">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576(v=winembedded.5).aspx