Making a global variable that's a class and has it's constructor method that's requir

Code:

---

class Window;
class ComboBox;


        class Window
{
        public:
                void Show();
                void Hide();
                void SetFont(HFONT NewFont);
                HWND GethWnd();
        protected:
                HWND itshWnd;
};
       
        HWND Window::GethWnd()
        {
                return itshWnd;
        }


        void Window::Show()
        {
                ShowWindow(itshWnd, SW_NORMAL);
        }
       
        void Window::Hide()
        {
                ShowWindow(itshWnd, SW_HIDE);
        }

        void Window::SetFont(HFONT NewFont)
        {
                SendMessage(itshWnd, WM_SETFONT, (WPARAM) NewFont, (LPARAM) true);
        }

       
       
        class ComboBox: public Window
{
        public:
                //constructors
                ComboBox(RECT area, HWND OwnerhWnd, HINSTANCE hStance);
                  //ComboBox(RECT area, HWND OwnerhWnd);
                ~ComboBox();
                void AddItem(char *NewItem);
                int GetItem();
        protected:
                HWND Owner;
                HINSTANCE hIns;
};

       
        ComboBox::ComboBox(RECT area, HWND OwnerhWnd, HINSTANCE hStance)
        {
                Owner = OwnerhWnd;
                //hIns = hStance;
                itshWnd = CreateWindowEx(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE, "ComboBox", "", WS_CHILD | CBS_DROPDOWNLIST , area.left, area.top, area.right - area.left, area.bottom - area.top, Owner, 0, hStance, NULL);
        }

/*        ComboBox::ComboBox(RECT area, HWND OwnerhWnd)
        {
                //Assumes that a different Combo (with HINSTANCE) has been created
                Owner = OwnerhWnd;
                itshWnd = CreateWindowEx(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE, "ComboBox", "", WS_CHILD | CBS_DROPDOWNLIST , area.left, area.top, area.right - area.left, area.bottom - area.top, Owner, 0, hIns, NULL);
        } */

        ComboBox::~ComboBox()
        {
                //Nothing
        }

        void ComboBox::AddItem(char *NewItem)
        {
                SendMessage(itshWnd, CB_ADDSTRING, 0, (WPARAM) NewItem);
        }

        int ComboBox::GetItem()
        {
                return (int) SendMessage(itshWnd, CB_GETCURSEL, 0, 0);
        }

---

In case you hadn't noticed I'm trying to make my own sort of class for each control, starting with comboboxes.

Now, what I want to do is to be able to access the class
from any part of code module. But if I make a global variable:

Code:

---

ComboBox cmbOper(WndRect, hWnd, hInst);

---

It obviously fails miserably because hInst, hWnd and WndRect haven't been created yet.

I tried something to do with the free store, but I couldn't access it outside of the procedure where I created it because the actual memory still existed, but the name I had given it was not declared in the routine I was trying to call it from, and that me... Arrrrgh.

Plain and simple:

How do I create an object that I can access anywhere in my code given that it has its own constructor?

There's got to be a way...

How about a global variable that's a pointer?

Code:

---

ComboBox *gpCombo;

WinMain(...) {
  gpCombo = new ComboBox(...);

  ...

  delete gpCombo;
}

---

Thanks soooo much. I really needed that. I'll help you one day.

<ahem>

<ahem>

<ahem><ahem>

<ahem><ahem>

<ahem><ahem><ahem>

*breaks into mad coughing fit*

Sorry. :(

Okay...lets see if you can help me with this small query:

Do you know how to use a C++ class from VB???

Hehehe.

PS: This is a genuine question (I just never bothered asking after I only got 2 views, and one was mine)

You'd obviously... err ...

<looks through book>
<realises the 'book' is PLAYBOY>
<sees in-depth article in C++-To-VB class porting on page 27>
<Notices they're 'porting' something else on page 28> ;)
<Can't be bothered to answer question now that he's seen page 31 ;) >
<Sorry, parksie, business before pleasure :D >

Hey - you been going through my stuff?