Starting Win32

hello
I had a question about win32 apps. How do i make one in C++. I've been working with console appications for a while, and now im hoping to move into the win32 applications. I know theres an option that you can start with, but how do I structure it. Can anyone give me a starting point. The Hello World program is a bit complicated if you don't have a clue where to start.

Any tips or hints are greatly appriciated!
Thanks!

Well, how about the thread RIGHT NEXT to this one? :rolleyes:
http://forums.vb-world.net/showthrea...threadid=71834

Here's a skeleton of your basic Win32 entry point:

Code:

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#include <windows.h>

int __stdcall WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow) {
    MessageBox(NULL, "Hello!", "Windows App!", MB_OK);

    return 0;
}

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What those parameters mean:
hInstance -- handle to the current instance of your program
hPrevInstance -- unused in Win32, it's a relic from old versions
lpCmdLine -- the whole command line supplied w/o the program filename
nCmdShow -- you know in shortcuts where you can set it to open a window maximised/minimised/etc? this is where windows passes that to the program :)

Try the
http://www.winprog.org/tutorial

the tutorial there is very thorough and explains basic windows programming in details.

Here is the most common example:

Code:

---

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;
        }

---

Yet another example of why we need an FAQ.

Quote:

---

Code:

---

while(GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0)) {
    TranslateMessage(&msg);
    DispatchMessage(&msg);
}

---

---

Actually, that's wrong, I'm afraid :( Since GetMessage can also return -1 you need to check for that as well, otherwise your program can get stuck looping around doing nothing :eek:

Code:

---

int i;
while(i = GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0)) {
    if(i == -1) break;
    TranslateMessage(&msg);
    DispatchMessage(&msg);
}

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by ChimpFace9000
Yet another example of why we need an FAQ.

---

True :(

Hey thanks for all the replies!
I'm gonna go check out the links right now... I was in a rush and I din't pay attention to the other threads, next time i'll be more observant.

I agree that we need a FAQ , so ppl. like me can directly go there.
Anyways, thanks for links

:p