SAMPLE: Appbar.exe - Creating an Application Desktop Toolbar

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The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. The application desktop toolbar interface for provides an easy way for an application to attach windows to the edge of the screen so that they don't overlap the desktop or other applications. The ability to do this is especially useful in an application-launching program such as the Microsoft Office Manager (MOM) utility or in an application that needs to provide status information to the user as it runs in the background.

The application creates its window normally and then registers itself with the system as an application desktop toolbar (appbar). Once registered as an appbar, any time the window moves it must negotiate with the system for screen space by sending the requested rectangle to the system as part of an ABM_QUERYSETPOS message. The system then checks to see if any other appbars are using that space and adjusts the rectangle requested so as not to overlap. When the appbar is moved, the system resizes the desktop and moves any currently running applications so they do not overlap the appbar.