在不改变主窗口焦点的情况下将程序的辅助窗口置于最前面

Question

So I have a main window/form for my program, and a partner-in-crime window/form, shown/hidden on request. I would like both of them to be in the front when the main window is called to the front (eg by Alt-Tab).

Trying to use the main window's Activated function and using the partner window's Focused or Activate functions calls focus to the partner window when said partner window is Visible , and the problem is that at that point, every time I try to click on the main window (y'know, to use it), I focus on it, meaning that it brings focus to the partner window instead.

How do I bring a partner window up to the front while keeping focus on the main window?

With hope,

radzo73

Answer 1

I have found this first-line solution that works but can certainly be improved or adapted:

private Timer ActivatedTimer;
private bool ActivatedMutex;

public FormTest()
{
  InitializeComponent();
  ActivatedTimer = new Timer();
  ActivatedTimer.Interval = 10;
  ActivatedTimer.Tick += (sender, e) =>
  {
    ActivatedTimer.Stop();
    try
    {
      ActivatedMutex = true;
      BringToFront();
    }
    finally
    {
      ActivatedMutex = false;
    }
  };
}

private void FormTest_Activated(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
  if ( ActivatedMutex ) return;
  try
  {
    ActivatedMutex = true;
    foreach ( Form form in Application.OpenForms )
      if ( form != this && form.Visible )
        form.BringToFront();
    ActivatedTimer.Start();
  }
  finally
  {
    ActivatedMutex = false;
  }
}

Perhaps there are some Win32APIs to do that better.