How to use APIs

I've decided to give in and start usings APIs. My first attempt is with using SENDMESSAGE.The example I am trying to use is to search a list box for an item by entering text. After the declaration of the API there is a constant declaration "Const LB_FINDSTRING = &H18F". How do you know when to use this constant and what does it mean?

[Nitro]

Practive makes perfect!!!

There are books gear toward API only. They section out API by section such as graphics, file manipulation, text manipulation, window and etc...

I don't remember the titles, but I got two really good titles for you. They are excellent books on API.

I will posted tonight or tomorrow.

Are you using the API Viewer right now? And most of the time, the name of the constant gives it away.

[SonGouki]

My best advice to you is to NOT just start trying out different API calls and hoping you get it right. Programming for API is very different than programming for a standard language. It is very hard to debug and even harder to maintain if you're not exactly sure what your doing.

If you're serious about using APIs I suggest buying Dan Appleman's Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 API. Honestly, this is one of the best purchases I've ever made! It steps you through all the general API functions, and definitely gives you almost all the knowledge you'll need to learn the rest on your own.

Just my 2¢

[Edited by SonGouki on 04-05-2000 at 09:04 PM]