GetParent versus GetDesktop and GetAncestor(parent)

[cbruce]

Anyone know why the WinAPI call GetParent returns a different handle than the GetDesktop and GetAncestor(parent) calls?

;NirLauncher  -  NirSoft Utilities
    $hWnd     = 0x000000000163279A
;Parent Handles
    _WinAPI_GetDesktopWindow()                  = 0x00010010    ; = GetAncestor(Parent)
    _WinAPI_GetParent($hWnd)                    = 0x00000000    ; NOT = GetDesktop or GetAncestor
    _WinAPI_GetAncestor($hWnd, $GA_PARENT)      = 0x00010010    ; = GetDesktop
    _WinAPI_GetAncestor($hWnd, $GA_ROOT)        = 0x0163279A    ; = app window handle
    _WinAPI_GetAncestor($hWnd, $GA_ROOTOWNER)   = 0x0163279A    ; = app window handle

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BrewManNH]

Is the window an unowned top-level window? If so, GetParent won't return a value, it only returns the owner window. GetAncestor will return the parent window, but not the owner, when using the $GA_PARENT parameter.

Quote

(GetParent)

Return value

Type:

Type: HWND

 

If the window is a child window, the return value is a handle to the parent window. If the window is a top-level window with the WS_POPUP style, the return value is a handle to the owner window.

If the function fails, the return value is NULL. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

This function typically fails for one of the following reasons:

 

• The window is a top-level window that is unowned or does not have the WS_POPUP style.
• The owner window has WS_POPUP style.