How to use sandbox to force resize app windows?

oomin

New member
The app opened inside sandbox is large and does not allow resize. Without sandbox, I can resize it using windowgrid. Using sandbox, that is no longer possible. Is there a way to resize app window using sandbox, or have windowgrid run in the same sandbox instance so it can be resized inside sandbox?
 
You should be able to start windowgrid the same way you start the other app in the sandbox.

If the shell extension is installed, you can right-click windowgrid.exe and select "Run Sandboxed". In the following dialog, you select the same sandbox the other app is running in or supposed to be running in.

Another way to start an app, is by right-clicking the sandbox entry in the main GUI and selecting "Run > Run Program" where you have to enter the path or browse to the app (windowgrid.exe).
 
I tried it before, but since windowgrid runs on hidden tray where the clock is, it does not seem contained inside the sandbox.
Is there a way to configure a sandbox instance, by just clicking to start it, it will start both the intended app and windowgrid at the same time?
 
I tried it before, but since windowgrid runs on hidden tray where the clock is, it does not seem contained inside the sandbox.

Does windowgrid.exe show up in the user interface? Like in this screenshot? (Any process under the control of Sandboxie will be listed.)

Maybe windowgrid can only be run once and if it is already running on the host, it won't start a second time in the sandbox.

Is there a way to configure a sandbox instance, by just clicking to start it, it will start both the intended app and windowgrid at the same time?

It might not help, but there is a trigger system. Right-click on the sandbox in the main window of Sandboxie-Plus; open its options, go to advanced options (the user interface has to be in the advanced view) and click on triggers. There, you select "Run command" under "On Box Start" and enter the path to windowgrid.exe to have it start whenever something in the box is started.
 
After looking at your screenshot, I just click on the specific sandbox, and do a run program, then window grid ran inside that specific sandbox now, wrapped with your sandbox yellow frame. This means it should be able to start its own process with each sandbox. It would have been nice if it can resize your sandboxes from outside, then I can stag multiple sandboxes using just one windowgrid process. Thank you.

However it looks like windowgrid overlayed the sandbox, I can see the app, but cannot access the app. I will try to run windowgrid first, then run the app, lets see if that will work.

UPDATE:
(1) Tried running windowsgrid first, then the app, work on first one, but not the others. Actually to be exact, the first one always work regardless which app starts first, but not the others. If I try shutting down windowgrid, the whole sandbox will crash.

(2) Tried to run windowgrid on first sandbox, then the app, resize and placed on a grid, then close windowgrid. Repeat same step with second sandbox, except place on different grid, then close windowgrid. This works, though a bit sluggish, but workable. I'll try to see how many I can open with that sluggishness.

If I have small exe that I wish to run only once, or constantly running, I should be able to use the same method, correct?
 
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  1. Add the following settings to the box configuration. (see howto)
  2. Run WindowGrid (unsandboxed).
  3. Run a program in the sandbox.
  4. Try resizing the program's window.

INI:
OpenIpcPath=*\BaseNamedObjects*\WindowGrid*
OpenWinClass=*WindowGridOverlay*

Per Box Setting: Sandboxie-Plus > Right click on the sandbox > Sandbox Options > Edit Ini Section > Copy and paste the line to the bottom of the list > OK

OR

Global Setting: Sandboxie-Plus > Options > Global Settings > Edit Ini Section > Copy and paste the line to the bottom of the list > OK
 
  1. Add the following settings to the box configuration. (see howto)
  2. Run WindowGrid (unsandboxed).
  3. Run a program in the sandbox.
  4. Try resizing the program's window.

INI:
OpenIpcPath=*\BaseNamedObjects*\WindowGrid*
OpenWinClass=*WindowGridOverlay*

Per Box Setting: Sandboxie-Plus > Right click on the sandbox > Sandbox Options > Edit Ini Section > Copy and paste the line to the bottom of the list > OK

OR

Global Setting: Sandboxie-Plus > Options > Global Settings > Edit Ini Section > Copy and paste the line to the bottom of the list > OK
I am currently still running the tests that I reported above, it's been stable. In 2 days, I will test the above resizing method you gave me, and test it for another few days. Will update result accordingly.

UPDATE:
(1) Running windowgrid inside each sandbox, sandboxie-plus app is stable, windowgrid must be terminated after each use within sandbox. No hickups, app runs continuously for a few days.

(2) Running windowgrid outside sandbox, added to ini, on 3rd day, sandboxie-plus started no responding issue. After a few of those, had to shut it down, restart pc, and re-run again. Currently still testing.

Using the same routine, I will run a simple scanner inside the sandbox instance that will scan for an icon, and click to eliminate when appeared., or click on other icons when a specific icon appeared. Will see how this script runs in multiple sandbox instances at the same time.
 
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BUG UPDATE on Latest Version 1.15.11

Fail to start app entirely due to the errors as reported on attached screenshots.

UPDATE: regressed to v1.15.9, worked ok.
 

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