Running exe inside WinForm Project Tab

c#, exe, process, tabs, winforms

Solution

You could use the SetParent api to set the parent of the executable's window. Add a panel to your TabControl and use the code below to assign the parent of the executable window to that of the panel.

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr SetParent(IntPtr hWndChild, IntPtr hWndNewParent);

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    var process = new Process();
    process.StartInfo.FileName = "notepad.exe";
    process.Start();
    SetParent(process.MainWindowHandle, panel1.Handle);
}

To remove the window from the panel, use the same code but set the parent handle as IntPtr.Zero

SetParent(process.MainWindowHandle, IntPtr.Zero);

Problem

I am interested in assistance in doing the following with a winform application I am writing to open in a tab an .exe in c# in the Visual Studios 2010 IDE. I'm currently able to open the program via button click in the desired tab using the following code: ``` string str = @"-INSERT FILEPATH HERE-";//took file path out as i have a few exes i'm wanting to add. Process process = new Process(); process.StartInfo.FileName = str; process.Start(); ``` now how can i make it so this executable opens as the tab or in a tab, in my winform? I'm open to suggestions to doing either case. SOLVED: ``` using System.Runtime.InteropServices; using System.Threading; [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)] private static extern bool MoveWindow(IntPtr hwnd, int x, int y, int cx, int cy, bool repaint); [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)] static extern IntPtr SetParent(IntPtr hWndChild, IntPtr hWndNewParent); public GUI() { // Initialize form fieds InitializeComponent(); openProgram() } private void openProgram() { process.StartInfo.FileName = "-filepathhere-"; process.Start(); IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero; while ((ptr = process.MainWindowHandle) == IntPtr.Zero) ; SetParent(process.MainWindowHandle, trackerPanel.Handle); MoveWindow(process.MainWindowHandle, 0, 0, this.Width - 90, this.Height, true); } ```

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