New to C++. Help in functions, subs, and no MFC. Where do i start?

[Amon Ra]

Hello
I am new to VC++, but i am quite interested in programming. I did a few examples from books, butnthey always made me use the MFC, and they did not explaint to me how to make functions, sub, and then call them. If some one could explain that to me, that would be great, and also how to write a c++ program that is blank(like a new project in VB), but that does not run as a console, but as a usual windows program. thanx a lot

P.S.: I only use VC++

[KingDavid]

http://newdata.box.sk/bx/c/

I sugest you start with the console. At least to you get the hang of functions & loops in C.

Functions are done like this

void vFunction(int pram1,int pram2)// like a sub returns nothing
{
}

int iFunction(int pram1) // function returns value
{	
	return(pram1);
}

void main()// always required
{
	int a;

	vFunction(1,2);
	
	a = iFunction(1);

	iFunction(4);
}

[Vlatko]

If youj are a begginer don't start with windows programming. Learn C++ good first by experimrnting with console apps.

Thare are no subs in C++. Subs are really void functions (which don't return a value).

void mysub()
{//do something}
//no value is returned]

With out MFC you can't draw controls on a dialog. You need to create them using CreateWindowEx API Function.

Actually you can draw controls if you are using resources.
Here is a sample of how to make a window using raw API.

1. open visual c++
2. File > New
3. Click Projects tab
4. click Win32 Application and give it a name
5. click finish
6. click the File View Tab on TreeView
7. go to File > New
8. in the first tab Click C++ Source File and name it
9. Copy and paste the code in the new file
10. right click the Header folder and add Windows.h
11. click execute

#include <windows.h>
LRESULT CALLBACK WindowFunc(HWND, UINT, WPARAM, LPARAM);
char szWinNamw[] = "MyWin";
int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hThisInst, HINSTANCE hPrevInst,
				LPSTR kposzArgs, int nWinMode)


    {
    	HWND hwnd;
    	MSG msg;
    	WNDCLASSEX wcl;
    	wcl.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
    	wcl.hInstance = hThisInst;
    	wcl.lpszClassName = "My Window";
    	wcl.lpfnWndProc = WindowFunc;
    	wcl.style = 0;
    	wcl.hIcon = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION);
    	wcl.hIconSm = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_WINLOGO);
    	wcl.hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
    	wcl.lpszMenuName = NULL;
    	wcl.cbClsExtra = 0;
    	wcl.cbWndExtra = 0;
    	wcl.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH) GetStockObject(WHITE_BRUSH);
    	if(!RegisterClassEx(&wcl)) return 0;
    	hwnd = CreateWindow(
    		"My Window",
    		"Skeleton Window",
    		WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,
    		CW_USEDEFAULT,
    		CW_USEDEFAULT,
    		CW_USEDEFAULT,
    		CW_USEDEFAULT,
    		HWND_DESKTOP,
    		NULL,
    		hThisInst,
    		NULL
    		);
    	ShowWindow(hwnd, nWinMode);
    	UpdateWindow(hwnd);
    	while(GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0))


        	{
        		TranslateMessage(&msg);
        		DispatchMessage(&msg);
        	}
        	return msg.wParam;
    }
    LRESULT CALLBACK WindowFunc(HWND hwnd, UINT message,
    							WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)


        {


            	switch(message)	{
            	case WM_DESTROY:
            		PostQuitMessage(0);
            		break;
            	default:
            		return DefWindowProc(hwnd, message, wParam, lParam);
            	}
            	return 0;
        }

Here is a simple DOS i/o program. I used stdio functions instead of iostream.

// File that contains the standard i/o features. You can
// use the file iostream.h, (which will be a little easier,)
#include "stdio.h"


void main()
{
	// Declare a string variable (used to hold our name)
	char* cName;

	// Print a message to the console window using printf()
	printf("Hello, what is your name? ");

	// Recieve input from the user using scanf()
	// we are storing it in the variable called cName
	scanf("%s",cName);
	
	// Output our data to the console window. %s tells us that
	// the variable cName should be in its place. \n simply tells
	// the compiler to go to a new line
	printf("\nHello %s\n", cName);

}

[Vlatko]

stdio is a system header. It should be in angle brackets.

#include <stdio.h> 

[parksie]

Also, you need to allocate a buffer rather than just a random pointer.

[Amon Ra]

Thanks guys, i will try that. thanx for helping

[Amon Ra]

How do i start a console in VC++?? Which option do i select?

[parksie]

Win32 Console Application.

[Amon Ra]

ok, thanx a lot

[Amon Ra]

I selected Win32 console application, but there are no files in the project. what should i add to write a small console?

[parksie]

Add a new .cpp file, and add the following code:

#include <iostream.h> // Allows you to use input/output

void main() { // All console programs must have this function
    cout << "Hello World!" << endl;
}

[Amon Ra]

thanx. I just created my first C++ prog
Next, how do i declare variables? Are the types the same as the ones in VB? thanx for the help , parksie
appreciate

[parksie]

To declare a variable you just use:

type variablename;

...as in:

char mychar; // 1 byte
short myshort; // 2 bytes
int myint; // 4 bytes
long mylong; // Also 4 bytes
float myfloat; // Same as a VB single

[Amon Ra]

Cool! Hmmm, do you have an idea of what i could try to do as practice?

[Amon Ra]

Where do i declare the variables? is there a public or private declaration?

[parksie]

You can declare them anywhere

There's no public/private as such. For example:

void MyFunction() {
    int x;
}

void Other() {
    x = x + 1;
}

This is not allowed, since x is out of scope, because it's in a different set of braces. However, this would work:

int x;

void MyFunction() {
    x = x + 2;
}

void Other() {
    x = x + 1;
}

[Amon Ra]

OK thanx!
Hmmm, so u can declare anywhere. cool. Btw, what are the operators?

[parksie]

+, -, (), *, /, % (Mod), ^ (Xor), & (And), | (Or)

[Amon Ra]

thanx

[substring]

Amon,

It might be easier for you to start with File|New, then select the Files tab, and then select C++ Source File. It will take you to the IDE with a blank page for you to type in codes. When you are ready to build, the program will ask you to set up a default project workplace. All you have to do is to type in a name with the cpp extension, and voila.

This might be less confusing to you than doing the File|New|Projects.

Hope this helps.

substring.

[Amon Ra]

Thanx for the tip. You ar eright, it might be easier like that.

[parksie]

Originally posted by Wak
What does this bit mean?????

LRESULT CALLBACK WindowFunc(HWND, UINT, WPARAM, LPARAM);
char szWinNamw[] = "MyWin";

I understand it a little

And that's it. Thanx

WindowFunc is a prototype for your event handler's function, and the other is just a definition of a string array.

To make it a grey background you need to specify the correct brush when you populate your WNDCLASSEX structure. What are you using at the moment?

[Wak]

I know that if I put GRAY_BRUSH in there, it'll make the form gray, but how would I go about making it the standard colour, according to the settings, that each person has?? You know.. the convetional way. I'm retarded. Thanx

[parksie]

Try using COLOR_BTNFACE.

[Wak]

I figured out from your post that I could use COLOR_APPWORKSPACE. thant again