With PowerShell, how to switch minimized application to normal state? - windows

Question

Given a single-instance desktop application ccTest.exe, how can I use PowerShell (v6 or 7) to run the application in the Normal state if it is already running in Minimized state.
I need access to controls in the main window so it must be in Normal state. Get-Process works to check if the app is running. If not, then launch it with Start-Process and -WindowStyle Normal parameter. But Start-Process does not work if the the single-instance app is already running Minimized.
Due to timing constraints I'd rather not close ccTest.exe if minimized and then launch with Start-Process. Here is the test code.
if (Get-Process | Select MainWindowTitle, ProcessName, Id | where {$_.MainWindowTitle -like "ccTest*"})
{
if Minimized make it Normal
execute needed function
}
else
{
start-process "C:\Program Files (x86)\Test\ccTest.exe" -WindowStyle Normal
execute needed function
}
So how to change State/Style from Minimized to Normal to run the needed function?

Answer 1

This should do the trick.
Add-Type -AssemblyName UIAutomationClient
$MyProcess = Get-Process | where { $_.MainWindowTitle -like "ccTest*" }
if ($null -ne $MyProcess) {
# if Minimized make it Normal
$ae = [System.Windows.Automation.AutomationElement]::FromHandle($MyProcess.MainWindowHandle)
$wp = $ae.GetCurrentPattern([System.Windows.Automation.WindowPatternIdentifiers]::Pattern)
if ($wp.Current.WindowVisualState -eq 'Minimized') {
$wp.SetWindowVisualState('Normal')
}
# execute needed function
}
else {
start-process "C:\Program Files (x86)\Test\ccTest.exe" -WindowStyle Normal
# execute needed function
}
References:
Maximize window and bring it in front with powershell
Get window state of another process