C# creating a sticking windows on desktop with transperancy

Question

Hello all,

Long title, but simple problem.

I am trying to let a window stick to the destop (or pin), I can do this like this:

    [DllImport("User32.dll")]
    static extern IntPtr FindWindow(String lpClassName, String lpWindowName);
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    static extern IntPtr FindWindowEx(IntPtr hwndParent, IntPtr hwndChildAfter, string lpszClass, string lpszWindow);
    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
    static extern int SetParent(IntPtr hWndChild, IntPtr hWndNewParent);

        IntPtr pWnd = FindWindow("Progman", null);
        pWnd = FindWindowEx(pWnd, IntPtr.Zero, "SHELLDLL_DefVIew", null);
        pWnd = FindWindowEx(pWnd, IntPtr.Zero, "SysListView32", null);
        IntPtr tWnd = this.Handle;
        SetParent(tWnd, pWnd);

This works fine, but I cannot change transperancy or opacitiy.

I can use CreateWindowEx to create a nice transparent window layered, but then this methode does not work anymore to pin it to the desktop!

Anybody know's how this can be done?

Thank!

Answer 1

Only top-level windows can be created as layered. With your approach, you are creating a child window to the desktop window, hence it can't be layered.

It might be better if you try to explain what you mean by "sticking"/"pinning" a window to the desktop. I assume that you want to set the window at particular position on the desktop and keep it always there, but there must be something more to it which I am missing. Otherwise, why wouldn't just positioning the window at particular coordinates on the screen not work for you?