Minimizing or hiding application windows when building

[kinook]

Sometimes, it may be desirable to hide or minimize the build window. There are a few ways to achieve this.

1. The console application can be hidden by calling HideConsole.exe (installed in the Visual Build installation folder). For instance:

"C:\Program Files\VisBuildPro7\HideConsole.exe" "C:\Program Files\VisBuildPro7\VisBuildCmd.exe" /b "C:\Program Files\VisBuildPro7\Samples\RegEdit.bld"


2. Use the object model for building. Extract VisBuildHide.vbs from the attached ZIP file, then invoke like this:

wscript VisBuildHide.vbs "C:\Path\To\File.bld"


3. When calling from a scheduled task, if the task is configured to run as a non-logged-on user, the build window will not be displayed on any logged-in user's desktop.


4. To prevent the display of any Windows GUI applications that are started within a build, uncheck Tools | Application Options | Advanced | Always show GUI applications launched from a build and check the Hide application window option of the Run Program action.


5. The main build window can be minimized at the start of the build via a Run Script step (see Minimize.bld in the attached ZIP file).

Also, any GUI applications (including chained instances of VBP) launched from a minimized build window will also start minimized if not hidden.