Visual C++ and MFC Programming 2nd Edition

Chapter 3: Windows Resources Visual C++ and MFC Fundamentals

3.9 Other Techniques of Creating Windows.....................................................

3.9.1 Window Registration and Standard Resources..................................

The CFrameWnd::Create() method we have used so far provides a quick mechanism to

create a window. Unfortunately, it is not equipped to recognize custom resources. In

reality, this method is only used to create a window, not to receive resources. As we saw

in its syntax, its first argument, lpszClassName is used to get a window that has been

built, that is, a window whose resources have been specified. If you do not specify these

resources, that is, if you pass the lpszClassName argument as NULL, the compiler would

use internal default values for the window. These default are: a window that can be

redrawn when the user moves or resizes it, a white background for the main area of the

window, the arrow cursor, and the Windows "flat" icon, called IDI_APPLICATION.

To use your own resources, you must first create then register them. To register the

resources, you can call the AfxRegisterWndClass() global function. Its syntax is:

LPCTSTR AFXAPI AfxRegisterWndClass(UINT nClassStyle,

HCURSOR hCursor = 0,

HBRUSH hbrBackground = 0,

HICON hIcon = 0);

As you can see, this function is used to register, the window style, a cursor, a color for the

background, and an icon. After registering the window's style or the style and the

resources, this function returns a (constant) string that can be passed as the first argument

of the CFrameWnd::Create() method.

Practical Learning: Using Standard Resources

1. To use the AfxRegisterWndClass() function with default values, change the
   Exercise.cpp file as follows:

class CResFrame : public CFrameWnd

{

public:

CResFrame()

{

const char *RWC = AfxRegisterWndClass(NULL, NULL,

(HBRUSH)::GetStockObject(WHITE_BRUSH),

NULL);

Create(RWC, "Resources Fundamentals", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,

CRect(200, 120, 640, 400), NULL);

}

};

2. Test the application


3. After viewing the window, close it and return to MSVC


4. To use a standard cursor and a standard icon, change the Exercise.cpp file as follows:
   CResFrame()
   {