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share code 02-Sep-2010 22:24

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Code level: intermediate Code area: Outlook and .NET Printer Friendly Version
Title: How to get the IWin32Window for Outlook
Description: This Class could be used to pass the Outlook as parent to .Net Forms and Messageboxes. Prevents Messageboxes hided by Outlook
Date: 11-Nov-2006 15:04
Code level: intermediate
Code area: Outlook and .NET
Posted by: Helmut Obertanner
Body: /// /// Outlook example code by H.Obertanner http://www.x4u.de /// Created 2006 with Office 2007 B2TR and VSTO 2005 SE /// Free for non commercial use. /// using System; using System.Windows.Forms; using Outlook = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; namespace OutlookAdminTools { /// <summary> /// This class retrieves the IWin32Window from the current active Outlook window. /// This could be used to set the parent for Windows Forms and MessageBoxes. /// </summary> /// <example> /// OutlookWin32Window parentWindow = new OutlookWin32Window (ThisAddIn.OutlookApplication.ActiveWindow ()); /// MessageBox.Show (parentWindow, "This MessageBox doesn't go behind Outlook !!!", "Attention !", MessageBoxButtons.Ok , MessageBoxIcon.Question ); /// </example> internal class OutlookWin32Window : IWin32Window { /// <summary> /// The <b>FindWindow</b> method finds a window by it's classname and caption. /// </summary> /// <param name="lpClassName">The classname of the window (use Spy++)</param> /// <param name="lpWindowName">The Caption of the window.</param> /// <returns>Returns a valid window handle or 0.</returns> [DllImport("user32")] public static extern IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName); #region IWin32Window Members /// <summary> /// This holds the window handle for the found Window. /// </summary> IntPtr _windowHandle = IntPtr.Zero ; /// <summary> /// The <b>Handle</b> of the Outlook WindowObject. /// </summary> public IntPtr Handle { get { return _windowHandle; } } #endregion /// <summary> /// The <b>OutlookWin32Window</b> class could be used to get the parent IWin32Window for Windows.Forms and MessageBoxes. /// </summary> /// <param name="windowObject">The current WindowObject.</param> public OutlookWin32Window(object windowObject) { string caption = windowObject.GetType().InvokeMember("Caption", System.Reflection.BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, windowObject, null).ToString(); // try to get the HWND ptr from the windowObject / could be an Inspector window or an explorer window _windowHandle = FindWindow("rctrl_renwnd32\0", caption); } } }
All 5comments

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	vidisha 25-Apr-2008 03:40 hi I have similar issue. I have similar problem. I am developing a outlook 2003 shared addin. I want to add a button in reading pane. I knowI have to do this using Win32 however I do not know How to proceed. I have used the class which you have given above in code snipped however I am not knowing how to get handle for reading pane. After I get handle what do I have to do. Any inputs will be of great help
	Helmut Obertanner 25-Apr-2008 08:23 Hello El Hannam, can give us more details please ? What are you trying to programm ? Ann AddIn, IDExt2 or VSTO, or an Windows Forms Application ? What Version of Office do you have installed ? Greets, Helmut
	vidisha 28-Apr-2008 02:33 Hi Helmut I have outlook 2003 installed I am using shared addin with oulook 2003(extending IDTExtensibility2) I have to add a button on the outlook 2003 reading pane. When I have my mouse on this button a windows form should open up with some information. Can you guide me to some win32 api's where I can get some information how to achieve this.
	Yaron 10-Sep-2008 06:46 Hi vidisha, Any news on that? I have the same problem.....
	Helmut Obertanner 10-Sep-2008 12:11 Hi all, here I found this wonderful article. Maybe you can add an additional Panel on top of the Reading Pane and put in a Button here. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/office/additional_panel_Outlook.aspx Hope this helps, greets - Helmut
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