Overview
Group
Quick Info

Windows NT
Yes
Win95
Yes
Win32s
Yes
Import Library
kernel32.lib
Header File
winbase.h
Unicode
No
Platform Notes
On Win32s fdwAccess and fInherit ignored (set to PROCESS_ALL_ACCCESS and TRUE)

OpenProcess

The OpenProcess function returns a handle of an existing process object.

HANDLE OpenProcess(

DWORD dwDesiredAccess,
// access flag
BOOL bInheritHandle,
// handle inheritance flag
DWORD dwProcessId
// process identifier
);

Parameters

dwDesiredAccess

Specifies the access to the process object. For operating systems that support security checking, this access is checked against any security descriptor for the target process. Any combination of the following access flags can be specified in addition to the STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED access flags:

Access
Description
PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS
Specifies all possible access flags for the process object.
PROCESS_CREATE_PROCESS
Used internally.
PROCESS_CREATE_THREAD
Enables using the process handle in the CreateRemoteThread function to create a thread in the process.
PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE
Enables using the process handle as either the source or target process in the DuplicateHandle function to duplicate a handle.
PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION
Enables using the process handle in the GetExitCodeProcess and GetPriorityClass functions to read information from the process object.
PROCESS_SET_INFORMATION
Enables using the process handle in the SetPriorityClass function to set the priority class of the process.
PROCESS_TERMINATE
Enables using the process handle in the TerminateProcess function to terminate the process.
PROCESS_VM_OPERATION
Enables using the process handle in the VirtualProtectEx and WriteProcessMemory functions to modify the virtual memory of the process.
PROCESS_VM_READ
Enables using the process handle in the ReadProcessMemory function to read from the virtual memory of the process.
PROCESS_VM_WRITE
Enables using the process handle in the WriteProcessMemory function to write to the virtual memory of the process.
SYNCHRONIZE
Windows NT only: Enables using the process handle in any of the wait functions to wait for the process to terminate.

bInheritHandle

Specifies whether the returned handle can be inherited by a new process created by the current process. If TRUE, the handle is inheritable.

dwProcessId

Specifies the process identifier of the process to open.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is an open handle of the specified process.

If the function fails, the return value is NULL. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

The handle returned by the OpenProcess function can be used in any function that requires a handle to a process, such as the wait functions, provided the appropriate access rights were requested.

When you are finished with the handle, be sure to close it using the CloseHandle function.

See Also

CloseHandle
, CreateProcess, CreateRemoteThread, DuplicateHandle, GetCurrentProcess, GetCurrentProcessId, GetExitCodeProcess, GetPriorityClass, ReadProcessMemory, SetPriorityClass, TerminateProcess, VirtualProtectEx, WriteProcessMemory

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