Knowledge Base

PRB: App Desktop Toolbars Must Have WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW Style

Article ID: 132965

Article Last Modified on 7/11/2005

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q132965

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: kbshell kbprb KB132965


Send feedback to Microsoft

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.