Microsoft KB Archive/72907

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Manipulating Program Manager Groups Using DDE Interface

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Q72907

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a

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SUMMARY
The Microsoft Windows 3.0 Program Manager features a dynamic data exchange (DDE) interface that allows other applications that support DDE (for example, Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word for Windows) to control certain aspects of Program Manager.

This can be done using any of the following commands:

CreateGroup  Instructs the Program Manager to create a                new group or activate the window of an                existing group.

ShowGroup    Instructs the Program Manager to maximize, minimize, or restore a group window.

AddItem      Instructs the Program Manager to create a                new program item (icon) in the currently active group window.

DeleteGroup  Instructs the Program Manager to delete a group.

ExitProgman  Instructs the Program Manager to close. This command is only available when Program Manager is NOT the current Windows shell.

MORE INFORMATION
The section below describes each command in detail.

CreateGroup
The following is the syntax for the CreateGroup command:

"CreateGroup(GroupName,GroupPath)" GroupName is a string that names the group to be created. If a group already exists, with the name specified by GroupName, the group window will be activated.

GroupPath is a string that contains the path to the group file. If this parameter is omitted, Windows will use a default filename for the group in the Windows directory. This parameter is optional.

ShowGroup
The following is the syntax for the ShowGroup command:

"ShowGroup(GroupName,ShowCommand)." GroupName is a string that names the group window to be altered.

ShowCommand is an integer that specifies the action to be taken, based on the following list:

  Value                    Meaning -                   ---

1                       Activates and displays the group window, or restores the group window if the group is currently iconic or                           maximized.

2                       Activates the group window and displays it as iconic.

3                       Activates the group window and displays it as maximized.

4                       Restores the group window in its most recent size and position and activates it (similar to Value 1).

5                       Activates the group window in its current size and position.

6                       Minimizes the group window.

7                       Displays the group window as                            iconic. The window that is                           currently active remains active.

8                       Displays the group window in its current state. The window that is                           currently active remains active.

AddItem
The following is the syntax for the AddItem command:

"AddItem(CommandLine,Name,IconPath,IconIndex,xPos,yPos)" CommandLine is a string that contains the full command line required to execute the application. At a minimum, this is the name of the application's executable file. It can also be the full pathname of the application and any parameters required by the application.

Name is a string that supplies the title displayed below the icon in the group window. This parameter is optional.

IconPath is a string that contains the name of the file containing the icon to be displayed in the group window. This can be either a Windows executable file or an .ICO (icon resource) file. If you do not supply IconPath, Program Manager uses the first icon in the file specified by CommandLine. If that file does not contain an icon, then Program Manager uses a default icon (DOS icon). This parameter is optional.

IconIndex is an integer that specifies the index of the icon in the IconPath file that Program Manager is supposed to display. PROGMAN.EXE (Program Manager) contains five built-in icons that you can use for Windows or non-Windows programs. This parameter is optional.

xPos & yPos are integers that specify the horizontal and vertical position of the icon within the group. You must use both parameters to specify the icon's position. If you do not specify the position, Program Manager places the icon in the next available space. These parameters are optional.

DeleteGroup
The following is the syntax for the DeleteGroup command:

"DeleteGroup(GroupName)" GroupName is a string that names the group to be deleted.

ExitProgman
The following is the syntax for the ExitProgman command:

"ExitProgman(bSaveState)" bSaveState is a boolean value that, if TRUE, instructs Program Manager to save its state before closing. If bSaveState is FALSE, Program Manager does not save its state.