Starting Win32

[invitro]

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!

[parksie]

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

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

#include <windows.h>

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

    return 0;
}

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

[Vlatko]

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

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

[Vlatko]

Here is the most common example:

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;
        }

[ChimpFace9000]

Yet another example of why we need an FAQ.

[parksie]

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

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

[parksie]

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

True

[invitro]

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