Code:

{

In this article, I wish to describe the useful undocumented function

GetTaskmanWindow. The GetTaskmanWindow function returns a handle to

the window that ownes the taskbar buttons.

Here is the quoting about taskbar from Microsoft MSDN:

"The Microsoft® Windows® interface includes a special application desktop

toolbar called the taskbar.

The taskbar can be used for such tasks as switching between open

windows and starting new applications..."

and "The taskbar includes the Start menu, taskbar buttons,

a shortcut menu, and a status area...".

Unfortunately, Win32 API doesn't contain documented

function that can be used for accessing to the

taskbar so we should again use an undocumented way.

Here is the prototype for GetTaskmanWindow:

  function GetTaskmanWindow (): HWND;

As always, Microsoft doesn't provide us with the exports symbols

in the User32.lib for this function, so we should load them dynamically using the

GetProcAddress and GetModuleHandle functions:

}

// getaskmanwnd.cpp (Windows NT/2000)

//

// This example will show you how you can obtain a handle to the

// Windows Taskbar window.

// Translated from C to Delphi by Thomas Stutz

// Original Code:

// (c)1999 Ashot Oganesyan K, SmartLine, Inc

// mailto:ashot@aha.ru, http://www.protect-me.com, http://www.codepile.com

function TaskmanWindow: HWND;

type

TGetTaskmanWindow = function(): HWND; stdcall;

var

hUser32: THandle;

GetTaskmanWindow: TGetTaskmanWindow;

begin

Result := 0;

hUser32 := GetModuleHandle('user32.dll');

if (hUser32 > 0) then

begin

   @GetTaskmanWindow := GetProcAddress(hUser32, 'GetTaskmanWindow');

   if Assigned(GetTaskmanWindow) then

   begin

     Result := GetTaskmanWindow;

   end;

end;

end;

procedure ShowTaskmanWindow(bValue: Boolean);

var

hTaskmanWindow: Hwnd;

begin

hTaskmanWindow := TaskmanWindow;

if hTaskmanWindow <> 0 then

begin

   ShowWindow(GetParent(hTaskmanWindow), Ord(bValue));

end;

end;

// Example to Hide the Taskman Window

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);

begin

ShowTaskmanWindow(False);

end;