Setting textbox colour

[olamm2k]

Hi,

I have two VB6 applications, and I am working on changing the properties of one using API calls in the other (just experimenting, really). Anyway, I was wandering if there's a way to change the text colour in a textbox using API?

I had a look with the usual Spy++ when changing the text colour within the program, but that just posts the message 'WM_PAINT'. I also had a look at the SetProp function in MSDN, but I'm not sure where to go with that.

Any ideas?

[sciguyryan]

Well, you'll have to use the SendMessageA API function and, the WM_SETFONT as the message

Cheers,

RyanJ

[olamm2k]

Thanks for the prompt reply. How do I use this?

Using:

Debug.Print SendMessage(Text1.hwnd, WM_GETFONT, 0&, 0&)
Debug.Print SendMessage(Text2.hwnd, WM_GETFONT, 0&, 0&)

gives 889851594 and 889851594 where Text1 has black text and Text2 has red text.

Could you give me a simple example of just changing the forecolour to red?

EDIT:
Just reading around a bit, and it seems like there is no colour associated with font. If I were to use SetTextColor, how do I get the device context of the TextBox?

EDIT 2:
Reading around further, came up with the following:

Dim lngMainTexthDC As Long
    
    lngMainTexthDC = GetDC(txtMainText.hwnd)
    SetTextColor lngMainTexthDC, RGB(255, 0, 0)

However, this does not work. Still not sure why...

[sciguyryan]

EDIT:
Just reading around a bit, and it seems like there is no colour associated with font. If I were to use SetTextColor, how do I get the device context of the TextBox?

I do not think the Textbox has one, if it does then it will be Text1.hdc.

If it is not set then you'd have to creaqte your own.


Cheers,

RyanJ

[olamm2k]

How do I do this? There's the CreateDC function, but how would I use that to create a device context for an object outside my application?

Private Declare Function CreateDC Lib "gdi32" Alias "CreateDCA" 
  (ByVal lpDriverName As String, _
  ByVal lpDeviceName As String, 
  ByVal lpOutput As String, 
  lpInitData As DEVMODE) As Long

[sciguyryan]

Outside your application? I have no idea at all how you could do it.

I'll see if I can find some code / a tutorial that will help or, hopefuly someone that can answer this will reply before then

Cheers,

RyanJ

[olamm2k]

Okay, thanks.

Just to amend my second post,

Dim lngMainTexthDC As Long
    
    lngMainTexthDC = GetDC(txtMainText.hwnd)
    SetTextColor lngMainTexthDC, RGB(255, 0, 0)

does work, but only when you then use TextOut to write onto the TextBox, which isn't very helpful.