Opens an existing local process object.

Syntax

HANDLE WINAPI OpenProcess(
  __in  DWORD dwDesiredAccess,
  __in  BOOL bInheritHandle,
  __in  DWORD dwProcessId
);

Parameters

dwDesiredAccess [in]

The access to the process object. This access right is checked against the security descriptor for the process. This parameter can be one or more of the process access rights.

If the caller has enabled the SeDebugPrivilege privilege, the requested access is granted regardless of the contents of the security descriptor.

bInheritHandle [in]

If this value is TRUE, processes created by this process will inherit the handle. Otherwise, the processes do not inherit this handle.

dwProcessId [in]

The identifier of the local process to be opened.

Return Value

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

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

Remarks

To open a handle to another local process and obtain full access rights, you must enable the SeDebugPrivilege privilege. For more information, see Changing Privileges in a Token.

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.

Examples

For an example, see Taking a Snapshot and Viewing Processes.

Requirements

See Also

AssignProcessToJobObject
CloseHandle
CreateProcess
CreateRemoteThread
DuplicateHandle
GetCurrentProcess
GetCurrentProcessId
GetExitCodeProcess
GetModuleFileNameEx
GetPriorityClass
Process and Thread Functions
Processes
ReadProcessMemory
SetPriorityClass
SetProcessWorkingSetSize
TerminateProcess
VirtualProtectEx
WriteProcessMemory

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Build date: 10/9/2008