Focus initial instance from a secondary instance

Hi,

I want to recreate a feature I have seen before, but I can't find any reference of how to implement it.

I have a dropbox application (custom, encrypted, ftp-like client), and I want to make sure that only one instance can be run at a time. I have a lock file which makes sure of this.

But what I'd like is if a second instance is run, and finds the first instance still running, that it gives focus to the first instance and then the second instance exits.

I think it might be handled by the window manager rather than the program itself, but to me it's worth asking about. Can someone please shed some light by point me in the right direction?

Ty.

EDIT*:
Maybe the communication can be done using shared memory? But this still doesn't help with the focus of a non-child window.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yonut

Hi,

I want to recreate a feature I have seen before, but I can't find any reference of how to implement it.

I have a dropbox application (custom, encrypted, ftp-like client), and I want to make sure that only one instance can be run at a time. I have a lock file which makes sure of this.

But what I'd like is if a second instance is run, and finds the first instance still running, that it gives focus to the first instance and then the second instance exits.

I think it might be handled by the window manager rather than the program itself, but to me it's worth asking about. Can someone please shed some light by point me in the right direction?

Ty.

EDIT*:
Maybe the communication can be done using shared memory? But this still doesn't help with the focus of a non-child window.

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It's been a while since I've done any WIN32 programming (I assume that what you're talking about here) so not 100% sure this is correct but from what I remember anyway. If the WM_CREATE message CREATESTRUCT "hInstance" parameter equals GetModuleHandle(NULL) then there is only one instance currently running.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Galahad

It's been a while since I've done any WIN32 programming (I assume that what you're talking about here) so not 100% sure this is correct but from what I remember anyway. If the WM_CREATE message CREATESTRUCT "hInstance" parameter equals GetModuleHandle(NULL) then there is only one instance currently running.

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Hi, thanks for the reply.

It is actually for Linux and then (down the road) Mac OS.

For an example, just in case I wasn't making sense...

I can load a pdf with `evince`, scroll down a bit so it's not at the beginning, and minimize the application. Then I can run the same command I previously ran, and evince will not spawn another instance, and it makes the existing instance un-minimized and focused.

I have figured out a system of the lock file for Linux using `flock`. But I don't know how I would be able to make the initial instance un-minimized and, if possible, have focus.

Ah, in that case maybe the wmctrl command? (Example usage discussed here.)