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Par2: Check for multiple instances of a program using DDE
1999-10-04 -- Richard Taylor
 
32-bit programs, unlike 16-bit programs, do not automatically default to a single running

instance. Users can easily initiate multiple program instances by just being a little 
impatient and double-clicking the program icon twice. For some applications this is not 
a problem, but for others it could be disastrous. Therefore, limiting Users to a single 
running instance is necessary and actually pretty simple to accomplish. The trick here is
to make your program a DDE Server and have it look for an already running instance of
itself before fully loading.

You need to declare a global variable:

Channel   LONG

And you need to prototype a Windows API call in the Inside the Global Map embed point:

  MODULE('Windows API Call')
    BringWindowToTop(LONG),BYTE,RAW,PASCAL,NAME('BringWindowToTop'),PROC
  END

Then in the Program Setup embed point:

  Channel = DDECLIENT('MYPROGRAM')     !look for running instances of this program
  IF Channel <> 0    ! and if found
    DDEEXECUTE(Channel,'INFRONT')      ! tell the running instance to take focus
    DDECLOSE(Channel)
    RETURN                        ! then get out
  END

Then in the AppFrame's ThisWindow.Init method, after opening window embed point:

  Channel = DDESERVER('MYPROGRAM') !set program as a DDE Server

Then in the AppFrame's ThisWindow.TakeEvent method, top of CYCLE/BREAK
support embed point:

    IF EVENT() = Event:DDEexecute
      IF DDEVALUE() = 'INFRONT'   !tells it to bring itself to the front
        AppFrame{PROP:Iconize} = FALSE
        BringWindowToTop(AppFrame{PROP:Handle}) !and this does it
      END
    END



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