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c++winapisystem-tray

C++ system tray only program

After checking Microsoft's documentation on system tray icons (that I could find):

Shell_NotifyIconA function

NOTIFYICONDATAA structure

I've noticed that a window handle (HWND) is REQUIRED. This is very bad for what I'm trying to accomplish, as I'm looking to create a program that only reacts to the system tray: it doesn't "minimize" the window to the tray, it just uses notifications (clicking/right clicking on the icon) to interact.

How would I go about doing this?

Solution

  • The Windows 7 SDK contains an example called NotificationIcon. This example contains a line

    ShowWindow(hwnd, nCmdShow);

    in its wWinMain function. The effect of this call is that you see a program window.

    Just change this line to

    ShowWindow(hwnd, SW_HIDE);

    to hide the program window and only display the icon in the system tray. As others have pointed out the program needs a program window, even if it is not visible.