CreateCompatibleDC()

Is it okay to pass zero to this function as the hdc? I've seen some bitmap classes that load an image using LoadImage, and then create an hdc using CreateCompatibleDC, put 0 is passed to this function. I've also seen a blank bitmap created using CreateCompatibleBitmap(), and then the DC is created using CreateCompatibleDC(), but a value is required other than zero. What is the purpose of passing a value to CreateCompatibleDC()? When and when can't 0 be used?

thanks,
jmiller

'0' for CreateCompatibleDC () signifies that the 'source' DC
that is used to derive a compatible DC will be the DC of your
application's foreground window. Once you have your DC handle
you can CreateCompatibleBitmap () a bitmap off of it.

hMemDC = CreateCompatibleDC ()
hBmp = CreateCompatibleBitmap (hMemDC, <width>, <height>)

-CC

P.S. Is that a ThunderCats avatar?