batch file open windows and resize them - windows

Question

I am currently trying to open two windows through a batch file and then resize and move them (to be splitscreen). Opening the separate windows is easy:
#echo off
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer"
start iexplore.exe
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox"
start firefox.exe
exit
but I can't find a way to resize and move the windows I am opening. I would prefer not having to use any third party programs. I tried looking through the start /? help menu and don't believe any of the options are of use to me.
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.10586]
(c) 2015 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>start /?
Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
START ["title"] [/D path] [/I] [/MIN] [/MAX] [/SEPARATE | /SHARED]
[/LOW | /NORMAL | /HIGH | /REALTIME | /ABOVENORMAL | /BELOWNORMAL]
[/NODE <NUMA node>] [/AFFINITY <hex affinity mask>] [/WAIT] [/B]
[command/program] [parameters]
"title" Title to display in window title bar.
path Starting directory.
B Start application without creating a new window. The
application has ^C handling ignored. Unless the application
enables ^C processing, ^Break is the only way to interrupt
the application.
I The new environment will be the original environment passed
to the cmd.exe and not the current environment.
MIN Start window minimized.
MAX Start window maximized.
SEPARATE Start 16-bit Windows program in separate memory space.
SHARED Start 16-bit Windows program in shared memory space.
LOW Start application in the IDLE priority class.
NORMAL Start application in the NORMAL priority class.
HIGH Start application in the HIGH priority class.
REALTIME Start application in the REALTIME priority class.
Press any key to continue . . .

Answer 1

If you have PowerShell installed (and you likely do), you can use user32.dll to move and adjust windows. Once upon a time, I needed a script for work that does exactly what you need and I found this and adjusted it to suit my needs. I then used this to convert it to a batch/powershell hybrid so that I only had to double-click the file to get the PowerShell script to run.
<# :
:: Based on https://gist.github.com/coldnebo/1148334
:: Converted to a batch/powershell hybrid via http://www.dostips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37780#p37780
#echo off
setlocal
cls
set "POWERSHELL_BAT_ARGS=%*"
if defined POWERSHELL_BAT_ARGS set "POWERSHELL_BAT_ARGS=%POWERSHELL_BAT_ARGS:"=\"%"
endlocal & powershell -NoLogo -NoProfile -Command "$_ = $input; Invoke-Expression $( '$input = $_; $_ = \"\"; $args = #( &{ $args } %POWERSHELL_BAT_ARGS% );' + [String]::Join( [char]10, $( Get-Content \"%~f0\" ) ) )"
goto :EOF
#>
# Add the relevant section of the Win32 API to the PowerShell session
# Allows windows to be moved and resized
Add-Type #"
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class Win32 {
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool MoveWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int X, int Y, int nWidth, int nHeight, bool bRepaint);
}
"#
################################################################################
# Moves and resizes the window based the broswer
#
# Arguments: $browser - the browser being moved and resized
# Returns: None
################################################################################
Function MoveAndResize ($browser)
{
# $browser_path is the full path to the browser
# $screen_x is the horizontal location of the window on the screen
# $screen_y is the vertical location of the window on the screen
# $win_x is the width of the target window
# $win_y is the height of the target window
Switch($browser){
InternetExplorer{
$browser_path="C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"
$screen_x = 0
$screen_y = 0
$win_x = 960
$win_y = 1080
break
}
Firefox{
$browser_path="C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
$screen_x = 960
$screen_y = 0
$win_x = 960
$win_y = 1080
break
}
default {continue}
}
# Start the desired browser
Start-Process $browser_path
# Wait one second until the browser is fully loaded
Start-Sleep -S 1
# Find the running process where the application path matches $browser_path
$browser = (Get-Process | where {$_.Path -eq $browser_path}).MainWindowHandle
[Win32]::MoveWindow($browser, $screen_x, $screen_y, $win_x, $win_y, $true)
}
MoveAndResize "InternetExplorer"
MoveAndResize "Firefox"
Note that I'm using the Program Files version of iexplore instead of the Program Files (x86) version because that one wouldn't move or resize for some reason.