Another Where-to-begin question

[LittleAcorn]

I've done C programming in the distant past, and have also done some Windows programming in Fortran 95. But now I have a Visual C++ 6.0 compiler, and want to basically put up a window, put a message box in it, put in some checkboxes, two dropdown boxes, etc.

When I look at the documentation, I get deluged with talk of Classes, Properties, etc. that I'm not familiar with.

I've run a simple program that puts up a message box, using a lot of defaults. It works. Now I want to write a program that puts up a window, puts a message box in it near the left side, and puts in a few checkboxes on the right side.

Do I have to take a four-semester course to do this? Or can I get some relatively simple hints?

The simple messagebox program:

-----------------------------------------

#include <stdio.h>
#include <windows.h>

main()
{
MessageBox(NULL, "She sells sea shells by the sea shore.", "Message", MB_OK);
return 0;
}

-----------------------------------------

It puts the message box in the middle of the screen. How do I make it put it near the left side of the screen?

And, for a more advanced program, how do I first open a medium-sized window, and then put that message box inside it, near the left side? And then put a few checkboxes near the right side?

Thank you for any help or suggestions!

[freddie1]

A lot of folks started learning low level (no class frameworks) Windows programming from Charles Petzold's "Programming Windows" books. Another good place to start is the "Forger's Win32" tutorials. Do a google on it. I've posted some introductory stuff with working examples and explanations here...

http://www.jose.it-berater.org/smfforum/index.php?board=380.0

The GUI stuff starts at Program Example #37. Later when I have time I'll post a VC6 example or two for you if you want. Most folks will tell you to get rid of VC6 but I still occasionally use it. In fact, if I do COM programming its the only thing I'll use. Just thought I'd mention that.

What you want to do is easy (once you know how to do it!).

[freddie1]

Here's your VC6 (C++) Check Box program to get you started. You need to set the project up as a "Win32" project without MFC support and choose an "Empty Project". Then go to the file menu and choose "Add File" and select "C++ Source File". Name it "Main.cpp". Past this into it...

//Main.cpp
#include <windows.h >
#define CHECK_BOX_C                     1500
#define CHECK_BOX_C_PLUS_PLUS           1505
#define CHECK_BOX_PowerBASIC            1510
#define CHECK_BOX_Visual_Basic_6        1515
#define CHECK_BOX_Visual_Basic_NET      1520
   
LRESULT CALLBACK fnWndProc(HWND hwnd, unsigned int msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
 switch(msg)
 {
  case WM_CREATE:
    {
       HINSTANCE hIns;
       HWND hCtl;
       hIns=((LPCREATESTRUCT)lParam)->hInstance;
       hCtl=CreateWindow("button","C Programming Language",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE|BS_AUTOCHECKBOX,10,40,250,25,hwnd,(HMENU)CHECK_BOX_C,hIns,0);
       hCtl=CreateWindow("button","C++ Programming Language",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE|BS_AUTOCHECKBOX,10,70,250,25,hwnd,(HMENU)CHECK_BOX_C_PLUS_PLUS,hIns,0);
       hCtl=CreateWindow("button","PowerBASIC",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE|BS_AUTOCHECKBOX,10,100,250,25,hwnd,(HMENU)CHECK_BOX_PowerBASIC,hIns,0);
       hCtl=CreateWindow("button","Visual Basic 6",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE|BS_AUTOCHECKBOX,10,130,250,25,hwnd,(HMENU)CHECK_BOX_Visual_Basic_6,hIns,0);
       hCtl=CreateWindow("button","Visual Basic .NET",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE|BS_AUTOCHECKBOX,10,160,250,25,hwnd,(HMENU)CHECK_BOX_Visual_Basic_NET,hIns,0);    
       return 0;
    }
  case WM_PAINT:
    {
        HDC hDC;
        PAINTSTRUCT ps;
        hDC=BeginPaint(hwnd,&ps);
        SetBkMode(hDC,TRANSPARENT);
        TextOut(hDC,10,0,"Which Programming Languages Have You Used Today?",48);
        EndPaint(hwnd,&ps);    
        return 0;
    }
  case WM_CLOSE:
    {
       MessageBox(hwnd,"Window Procedure Received WM_CLOSE Message!","Message Report!",MB_OK);
       DestroyWindow(hwnd);
       PostQuitMessage(0);
       return 0;
    }
 }

 return (DefWindowProc(hwnd, msg, wParam, lParam));
}


int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpszArgument, int iShow)
{
 char szClassName[]="CheckBoxes";
 WNDCLASSEX wc;
 MSG messages;
 HWND hWnd;

 wc.lpszClassName=szClassName,                wc.lpfnWndProc=fnWndProc;
 wc.cbSize=sizeof (WNDCLASSEX),               wc.style=CS_DBLCLKS;
 wc.hIcon=LoadIcon(NULL,IDI_APPLICATION),     wc.hInstance=hInstance;
 wc.hIconSm=LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION),  wc.hCursor=LoadCursor(NULL,IDC_ARROW);
 wc.hbrBackground=(HBRUSH)COLOR_BTNSHADOW,    wc.cbWndExtra=0;
 wc.lpszMenuName=NULL,                        wc.cbClsExtra=0;
 RegisterClassEx(&wc),
 hWnd=CreateWindowEx(0,szClassName,szClassName,WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,350,250,400,275,HWND_DESKTOP,0,hInstance,0);
 ShowWindow(hWnd,iShow);
 while(GetMessage(&messages,NULL,0,0))
 {
    TranslateMessage(&messages);
    DispatchMessage(&messages);
 }

 return messages.wParam;
}