Host an instance of a thrid-party app within my app

[Jay Meerdink]

One of our business apps (we own the app, not the code) has an
unfortunate UI that doesn't lend itself well to having multiple
concurrent instances. Principal functionality begins with a toolbar
that always docks at the top of the screen, even on top of the
toolbars of other already-running instances. Once you click a button
on the toolbar, a specific app function is presented in a new,
floating window. This window might lead to more windows, etc.
There's no way to tell which windows go with any given instance of the
program. To switch between intances, alt-tab through the set of
identical icons, carefully reading a truncated bit of text that
describes the instance.

I'd like to write a "host" for this app, wherein each instance is
contained in its own parent window. Once it's in the window, I can
embelish the window to make it easier to identify the instance it
holds.

Is this similar to desktop switching? ...multiple desktops each
tracking their own running programs providing the ability to jump
between program sets by changing to the desired desktop.

Thanks!

 

[Jay Meerdink]

One of our business apps (we own the app, not the code) has an
unfortunate UI that doesn't lend itself well to having multiple
concurrent instances.  Principal functionality begins with a toolbar
that always docks at the top of the screen, even on top of the
toolbars of other already-running instances.  Once you click a button
on the toolbar, a specific app function is presented in a new,
floating window.  This window might lead to more windows, etc.
There's no way to tell which windows go with any given instance of the
program.  To switch between intances, alt-tab through the set of
identical icons, carefully reading a truncated bit of text that
describes the instance.

I'd like to write a "host" for this app, wherein each instance is
contained in its own parent window.  Once it's in the window, I can
embelish the window to make it easier to identify the instance it
holds.

Is this similar to desktop switching?  ...multiple desktops each
tracking their own running programs providing the ability to jump
between program sets by changing to the desired desktop.

Thanks!

Is this posted in the wrong forum? Or should it be relegated to the
lands of fancy...

 

[Family Tree Mike]

Is this posted in the wrong forum? Or should it be relegated to the
lands of fancy...

Sounds like "lands of fancy" to me. You may however be better
contacting the software vendor directly and teaming with them. They may
see what you want has mutual benefit for them to resell.

 

[Jay Meerdink]

Sounds like "lands of fancy" to me.  You may however be better
contacting the software vendor directly and teaming with them.  They may
see what you want has mutual benefit for them to resell.

Unfortunately the vendor froze all development. They want me to
improve the value-case for their product without any effort
expenditure on their part.

Thanks for your reply.