A batch file to minimize other applications

Question

How can i have a bat file which opens an application lets call it firefox.exe.how would i call the bat file or any other script ie vbs to minimize the application ie firefox.exe then after lets say a minute or two close it.please mind you the start\min does not work?below is an example /part of my script?please help out?

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"  -tray

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 02 '13 at 20:21

8

Try:

start /min "" firefox

.. or (if FireFox is your default browser):

start /min "" "http://google.com"

answered Apr 02 '13 at 20:21

Endoro

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opens firefox ,but does not minimize the firefox window! – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 02 '13 at 20:33
what platform are you using?am using windows xp,and doesnt seem to work? – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 03 '13 at 07:04
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also xp, both are working, but not, if FireFox is already open. – Endoro Apr 03 '13 at 07:16
ok thanks!guess there is something wrong machine,coz it doesnt minimize whichever way,will try in another machine.did the firefox `tray` parameter work? – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 03 '13 at 07:26
does using the firefox `tray` parameter work from your end?pliz reply? – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 03 '13 at 07:39
no, it doesn't. there is no `/tray` option in the `start` command. Minimize to tray is in the responsibility of a windows application, not of cmd. – Endoro Apr 03 '13 at 07:50
no the `tray` is a ff commandline parameter see the link http://kb.mozillazine.org/Command_line_arguments but it doesnt seem to work! – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 03 '13 at 07:55
Perhaps this works on concrete case? I'm too on XP and this not work. My Firefox is 3.5.2 portable (if that relevant). – Panayot Karabakalov Apr 03 '13 at 11:08

Zdenek · Answer 2 · 2013-04-03T15:42:06.247

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The proper parameter would be -turbo, but it is long obsolete and probably not functional.

start "path\firefox.exe http://example.com/file.html" /MIN

might work better.

EDIT: Oops, it has already been suggested.

edited Apr 03 '13 at 15:42

answered Apr 02 '13 at 20:00

Zdenek

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it opens the url in a new window which does not minimize ,and it opens with a default window.not what am loking for! – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 02 '13 at 20:30

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 02 '13 at 20:01

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Have you tried:
start /min C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

using the forward slash?

answered Apr 02 '13 at 20:01

LaidBach

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funny enough your code minimizes the cmd prompt but not the firfox? – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 02 '13 at 20:24
Change `Program Files` & `Mozilla Firefox` to 8.3 notation, to avoid space in the path. Or see Endoro's answer. – anishsane Jan 27 '14 at 13:16

Jimmy Obonyo Abor · Answer 4 · 2018-03-11T03:41:53.173

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here is how i solved the problem using a command line tool known as nircmd,i used the hide parameter to hide the firefox and it acctully works perfectly.see the code example.

START "" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P "america" -no-remote http://hakikahost.com error.html
"nircmd.exe" win hide process "firefox.exe"

the link to nircmd ...link

edited Mar 11 '18 at 03:41

answered Apr 05 '13 at 05:59

Jimmy Obonyo Abor

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Apparently the relationship between NirCmd and FF has changed over the years. For me, using FF 85 on Win10 20H2, this command closed FF and erased all open tabs. What worked for me was nircmd win min process firefox.exe – Ray Woodcock Feb 01 '21 at 23:39

Panayot Karabakalov · Answer 5 · 2013-04-02T22:36:27.937

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The Firefox is quite problematic in this respect. Here is the best work out I was reach with VBScript.

Firefox = """c:\path to\firefox.exe"""
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set oFFox  = oShell.Exec(Firefox)

WScript.Sleep 1000
oShell.AppActivate oFFox.ProcessID

WScript.Sleep 1000
oShell.SendKeys "% (n)" ' minimize (Alt+SpaceBar,n)

WScript.Sleep 10 * 1000 ' wait 10 seconds
'next AppActivate call need Full and Exact title
oShell.AppActivate "Mozilla Firefox Start Page - Mozilla Firefox"

WScript.Sleep 1000
'oShell.SendKeys "% (r)"  ' restore (Alt+SpaceBar,r)
oShell.SendKeys "%{F4}"  ' close (Alt+F4)

P.S. Actually, restore command is redundant (I comment out that line).

Note that I not use oShell.AppActivate oFFox.ProcessID nor yet oFFox.Terminate because after minimize process both not work for me, therefore I use the title for the AppActivate and SendKeys to close the application.

edited Apr 02 '13 at 22:36

answered Apr 02 '13 at 22:03

Panayot Karabakalov

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Why do you use `SendKeys` to restore and close a window when you already have a `WshScriptExec` object that you can simply [`Terminate`](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yk84ffsf%28v=vs.85%29.aspx)? – Ansgar Wiechers Apr 02 '13 at 22:22
@AnsgarWiechers - Only because that not work for me, see my update. – Panayot Karabakalov Apr 02 '13 at 22:38
Hmm... both works just fine for me. I tested with SeaMonkey, not Firefox, though. – Ansgar Wiechers Apr 03 '13 at 18:29
@AnsgarWiechers - Can you test unruly Firefox as well. – Panayot Karabakalov Apr 04 '13 at 14:37
Works with Firefox 20.0 as well (fresh install on Server 2003). – Ansgar Wiechers Apr 04 '13 at 15:36

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 07:03

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Did you have a look at https://tn123.org/mintrayr/ addon? This can minimize firefox to try.

answered Apr 03 '13 at 07:03

anishsane

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The addon adds a minimize to tray feature to firefox. – anishsane Apr 03 '13 at 07:13
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Oh... that addon has an option, to "always start minimized". In case it is ok with you. – anishsane Apr 03 '13 at 07:29
oh wait... I think, it was some other addon, with similar functionality... But google for "firefox minimize to tray" :) – anishsane Apr 03 '13 at 07:31
does this command line work from your end `"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -tray` using the -tray parameter?pliz reply – Jimmy Obonyo Abor Apr 03 '13 at 07:34
nopes... FF doesn't support this option.. See this: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Command_line_arguments – anishsane Apr 03 '13 at 07:38

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 09 '17 at 18:23

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try with windowMode.bat:

call windwoMode -title "Mozilla Firefox" -mode minimized

though you'll need to know the starting letters of the window you want to minimize.

answered Mar 09 '17 at 18:23

npocmaka

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A batch file to minimize other applications

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