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

[V(ery) Basic]

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:

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...

[parksie]

How about a global variable that's a pointer?

ComboBox *gpCombo;

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

   ...

   delete gpCombo;
}

[V(ery) Basic]

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.

[parksie]

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)

[V(ery) Basic]

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 >

[parksie]

Hey - you been going through my stuff?