Windows 8 Layered Windows Over Metro Apps

Question

I have an app that runs on Windows 7 using Microsoft\'s Layered Window http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997507.aspx. This app is setup to have a 30% opacity, it\'s

Answer 1

I am almost positive that you can't have any other app overlaying a Metro app. The new Metro environment is meant to run single, full-screen apps (or two, but only if snapped to the side). Further, allowing something to act as a man-in-the-middle is a bit dangerous, since they could capture all sorts of sensitive user data.

That being said, if you can set the "always on top" property of a window, it might stay put over the Start menu and various Metro apps. I know it works with Task Manager, but I have never tried with an arbitrary app. I do not know that it would work well for Metro apps, however, due to their events being different than old-timey winform apps. You'd have to see if your "screen" allows touch events to pass through.

Answer 2

Yes, it is possible. Please take a look at this page:

http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/pavely/archive/2012/05/16/windows-8-topmost-vs-topmost.aspx

Specifically the second post in the comments section:

The topmost window is also affected by the accessibility settings. If you want a window on top of Metro, you need it to declare accessibility. Here are the key points:

1. The application must demand uiAccess (app.manifest)

2. The application must assert “topmost” window positioning (either in Win32/SetWindowPos or WinForms/WPF’s Topmost property, programmatically or otherwise)

3. Without making changes to the group policy setting, it must be installed to some trusted location [C:\Windows, C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86)].

   • If you want to be able to run it out of an arbitrary location, you must disable the security setting: “User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations”.

   • This is the same as setting HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ValidateAdminCodeSignatures to 0

4. Said application cannot be run in the debugger

5. If it’s a .NET application:

   • The manifest must be embedded in a post-build step

   • The application must have “delayed signing” (meaning it cannot be ran from the built-in debugger, although you can build and attach – this is what Microsoft does)

6. The application must be signed with a trusted certificate.

7. Said trusted certificate must be installed to the Trusted Root Certificate Authority (this is important! It must not just simply installed)

Answer 3

Run the windows speech recognition. Its a top most window which floats over start menu, desktop etc. So its possible for sure. I am working on a touch simulator for Windows 8 and needed to implement this feature.

Here are the steps to achieve this:

http://www.pixytech.com/rajnish/2013/05/windows-8-topmost-window/