PowerShell can use Add-Type to access internal Windows API functions. This way, it is easy to bring any process window into the foreground. Here is the function you need:
#requires -Version 2 function Show-Process($Process, [Switch]$Maximize) { $sig = ' [DllImport("user32.dll")] public static extern bool ShowWindowAsync(IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow) [DllImport("user32.dll")] public static extern int SetForegroundWindow(IntPtr hwnd) ' if ($Maximize) { $Mode = 3 } else { $Mode = 4 } $type = Add-Type -MemberDefinition $sig -Name WindowAPI -PassThru $hwnd = $process.MainWindowHandle $null = $type::ShowWindowAsync($hwnd, $Mode) $null = $type::SetForegroundWindow($hwnd) }
To test-drive Show-Process, here is a sample code on how to use it:
# launch Notepad minimized, then make it visible $notepad = Start-Process notepad -WindowStyle Minimized -PassThru Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 Show-Process -Process $notepad # switch back to PowerShell, maximized Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 Show-Process -Process (Get-Process -Id $PID) -Maximize # switch back to Notepad, maximized Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 Show-Process -Process $notepad -Maximize # switch back to PowerShell, normal window Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 Show-Process -Process (Get-Process -Id $PID)
Throughout this month, we’d like to point you to three awesome community-driven global PowerShell events taking place this year:
Europe: April 20-22: 3-day PowerShell Conference EU in Hannover, Germany, with more than 30+ speakers including Jeffrey Snover and Bruce Payette, and 60+ sessions: www.psconf.eu.
Asia: October 21-22: 2-day PowerShell Conference Asia in Singapore. Watch latest announcements at www.psconf.asia
North America: April 4-6: 3-day PowerShell and DevOps Global Summit in Bellevue, WA, USA with 20+ speakers including many PowerShell Team members: https://eventloom.com/event/home/PSNA16
All events have limited seats available so you may want to register early.
