Can executable be part of add-in?

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Can executable be part of add-in?
 
Dennis van der Meulen


Guest


Hello,

I want to make the form inside an executable behave like a form inside an add-in or a form inside an dll.

Let me explain:

1. form inside an add-in

var 
  SaveHandle: HWND; 
begin 
  SaveHandle := Application.Handle; 
  Application.Handle := GetForegroundWindow; 
  Form1 := TForm1.Create(Application); 
  try 
    Form1.ShowModal; 
  finally 
    Application.Handle := SaveHandle; 
    FreeAndNil(Form1); 
  end; 
end;

This form inside an add-in is part of the add-in. When this form is on the screen the add-in cannot be accessed.
Perfect!

2. form inside an dll

var
  myFilePath: string
  myDLLHandle: THandle;
  ShowForm: TShowForm;
begin
  myFilePath := Self.COMAddInClassFactory.FilePath;

  myDLLHandle := LoadLibrary(PChar(myFilePath + 'my.dll'));

  if myDLLHandle <> 0 then
  begin
    try
      @ShowForm := GetProcAddress(myDLLHandle, 'ShowForm');

      if Addr(ShowForm) <> nil then
      begin
        try
          ShowForm;
        except
          on E: SysUtils.Exception do
            ShowMessage('ShowForm: ' + E.Message);
        end;
      end;
    finally
      FreeLibrary(myDllHandle);
    end;
  end;
end;

A form inside this dll is part of the add-in. When this form is on the screen the add-in cannot be accessed.
Before the form inside the dll is created I do : Application.Handle := GetForegroundWindow;
Perfect!

3. form inside an exe

var
  myFilePath: string
begin
  myFilePath := Self.COMAddInClassFactory.FilePath;

  ShellExecute(0, 'OPEN', PChar(myFilePath + 'my.exe'),
    PChar(IntToStr(Application.Handle)), '', SW_SHOWNORMAL);
end;

This starts the exe but it is in no way part of the add-in. It has no connection with the add-in.

Is this possible at all? I'm not asking for a worked out solution, but a push in the right direction would be very much appreciated!

Thank you.
Posted 27 Aug, 2012 05:06:43 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18794
Joined: 2006-05-11
Hello Dennis,

I strongly believe that it is impossible for a Windows process to show a form so that the form is modal for another process.

Consider creating a public procedure showing the form in your add-in module and invoking that procedure from the .EXE; see the sample project at http://www.add-in-express.com/files/projects_pub/add-in-with-external-app.zip.


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 27 Aug, 2012 08:48:17 Top
Dennis van der Meulen


Guest


Hello Andrei,

I had a kind of feeling that this one would be very difficult or indeed impossible.

Thanks for the cool demo and I will give that a try!

Kind regards,
Dennis
Posted 28 Aug, 2012 01:41:42 Top
Andrei Smolin


Add-in Express team


Posts: 18794
Joined: 2006-05-11
You are welcome!


Andrei Smolin
Add-in Express Team Leader
Posted 28 Aug, 2012 08:12:47 Top