static class Program
{
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
var overlay = new Overlay();
// track windows open (requires WindowsBase, UIAutomationTypes, UIAutomationClient)
Automation.AddAutomationEventHandler(WindowPattern.WindowOpenedEvent, AutomationElement.RootElement, TreeScope.Subtree, (s, e) =>
{
var element = (AutomationElement)s;
if (element.Current.ProcessId != Process.GetCurrentProcess().Id)
{
Console.WriteLine("Added window '" + element.Current.Name + "'");
overlay.AddTrackedWindow(element);
// track window close
Automation.AddAutomationEventHandler(WindowPattern.WindowClosedEvent, element, TreeScope.Element, (s2, e2) =>
{
overlay.RemoveTrackedWindow(element);
});
}
});
Application.Run(overlay);
}
}
// adapted from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11077236/transparent-window-layer-that-is-click-through-and-always-stays-on-top
public class Overlay : Form // standard Windows Form
{
private readonly HashSet<AutomationElement> _windows = new HashSet<AutomationElement>();
public Overlay()
{
TopMost = true;
FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.None;
WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized;
MaximizeBox = false;
MinimizeBox = false;
ShowInTaskbar = false;
BackColor = Color.White;
TransparencyKey = BackColor;
}
protected override CreateParams CreateParams
{
get
{
var cp = base.CreateParams;
const int WS_EX_TRANSPARENT = 0x20;
const int WS_EX_LAYERED = 0x80000;
const int WS_EX_NOACTIVATE = 0x8000000;
cp.ExStyle |= WS_EX_LAYERED | WS_EX_TRANSPARENT | WS_EX_NOACTIVATE;
return cp;
}
}
protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
{
base.OnPaint(e);
foreach (var window in _windows.ToArray())
{
Rect rect;
try
{
rect = window.Current.BoundingRectangle;
}
catch
{
// error, window's gone
_windows.Remove(window);
continue;
}
// draw a yellow rectangle around window
using (var pen = new Pen(Color.Yellow, 2))
{
e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(pen, (float)rect.X, (float)rect.Y, (float)rect.Width, (float)rect.Height);
}
}
}
// ensure we call Invalidate on UI thread
private void InvokeInvalidate() => BeginInvoke((Action)(() => { Invalidate(); }));
public void RemoveTrackedWindow(AutomationElement element)
{
_windows.Remove(element);
InvokeInvalidate();
}
public void AddTrackedWindow(AutomationElement element)
{
_windows.Add(element);
InvokeInvalidate();
// follow target window position
Automation.AddAutomationPropertyChangedEventHandler(element, TreeScope.Element, (s, e) =>
{
InvokeInvalidate();
}, AutomationElement.BoundingRectangleProperty);
}
}