Command-String InterfaceCommand-String Interface*
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Command-String Interface


Program Manager has a DDE command-string interface that allows other applications to create, display, delete, and reload groups; add items to groups; replace items in groups; delete items from groups; and close Program Manager. The following commands perform these actions:
AddItem ExitProgman
CreateGroup Reload
DeleteGroup ReplaceItem
DeleteItem ShowGroup

For example, the setup program for an application can use these commands to instruct Program Manager to install the application's icon in a group.

Multiple commands can be concatenated; each command must be contained in square brackets, and parameters must be contained in parentheses and separated by commas. Quotation marks must delimit arguments that contain spaces, brackets, or parentheses. For example, the following set of commands adds Winapp.exe to the Windows Applications group.

[CreateGroup("Windows Applications")] 
[ShowGroup("My Group",1)] 
[AddItem(winapp.exe,Win App,winapp.exe,2)] 

To use these commands, an application must first initiate a DDE conversation with Program Manager. The application and topic names for the conversation are both Progman. The application then sends the WM_DDE_EXECUTE message, specifying the appropriate command and its parameters.

Note The user can configure Windows to use a shell other than Program Manager as the default. Therefore, do not design an application that assumes Program Manager will be available for a DDE conversation.

Shell DDE Reference

The following sections describe Program Manager DDE command strings in detail. In the syntax blocks in these sections, brackets enclose optional parameters.

arrowy.gifAddItem

arrowy.gifCreateGroup

arrowy.gifDeleteGroup

arrowy.gifDeleteItem

arrowy.gifExitProgman

arrowy.gifReload

arrowy.gifReplaceItem

arrowy.gifShowGroup


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