If you have used Windows 8 for at least a couple of months and have become accustomed to it, you should now know that the Metro UI is very easy to use.
You can click on a Windows Key (left or right doesn't matter), then click on a Metro app and it runs. The alternative way to run it is by clicking the Windows Key, writing the name of the application and pressing Enter. It runs!
So while I analyze its working process, I thought maybe I can send keys to the Metro UI. I can actually run Metro UI applications from a Windows Forms or Console App.
So here's how to do it.
1- First of all create a new Windows Forms Project:
2- Add a Button and by double-clicking on it create a click event handler for it.
3- Use this code:
SendKeys.Send("^{ESC}");
SendKeys.Send("MetroTwit");
SendKeys.Send("{ENTER}");
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An Explaination:
1st sendkeys code: simulates the Windows Key, which actually is a CTRL + ESC keys combination.
2nd sendkeys code: searches for the application that will run. For that I suggest you have a look at your apps first.
3rd sendkeys code: sends an Enter key that will run the Windows Store Application.
Dont forget to change the 2nd sendkeys parameter according to your own Windows 8 Environment.
4- Run it!
When I clicked on the button it ran the App.
So here are some screenshots to my project:
Games:
![metro2.png]()
![metro3.png]()
Travel:
![metro2.png]()
MetroTwit:
![metro2.png]()
As you can see, the code works perfectly!
So long story short, you can use 3 lines of code to fulfill your wish.
It would be so kind of you, if you shared your experience with it, so that I can update my article according to your experience using the code above.
Hope it helps!