Check for multiple instances of an application

Keywords:  WinIdNameID multiple instances application

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Question:

I want to check to see if a user, inadvertantly launched another instance of an application. I am aware that I can change the title of the window that my script launched by using WinTitle, and then check for any more instances of the original title and WinClose them. However, I do not like this approach because it is visible to users.

Do you have any other way to handle this problem?

Answer:

;DEFINE THESE VARIABLES
appname="app.exe"
windowname="Title"

Run(appname, "")
WinWaitExist(windowname,10)
;get main windows, window id
Mainid=WinIdGet(windowname);

;call this subroutine if you need to check for and shut down mulitple instances
gosub checkapps

;~~~~~~~~~~SUBROUTINE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:checkapps
;activate window, so it will be first one found in WinItemNameid
WinActivate(mainid)

;get list of windowname and id's
list=WinItemNameId()

;how many windows + id's ?
count=Itemcount(list,"|")
;If there is more than one window found
if count > 2
  For xx=1 to count by 2
        ;gets window name
        thiswin=ItemExtract(xx,list,"|")
	;gets window id
        thisid=ItemExtract(xx+1,list,"|")
	;message(thiswin,thisid);debugging
	;search for windowname
	if strindex(thiswin,windowname,0,@FWDSCAN)
	  ;make sure your not closing the main window
	  if thisid != mainid
	    WinClose(Thisid)
	  endif
	endif
  Next
Endif
return

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Article ID:   W13137

Filename:   Check for multiple instances of an application.txt