Visual C++ and MFC Programming 2nd Edition

Chapter 12: Dialog-Based Windows Visual C++ and MFC Fundamentals

13.4.4..Selecting Controls on a Parent Window..........................................

To visually manipulate a control, you will first need to select it. To select a control,

simply click it. A control that is selected is surrounded with 8 (blue) handles.

To select more than one control in the same area, click on the dialog box and draw a

"fake" rectangle that encloses all of the needed controls. The first control from the

selected group has 8 (blue) handles while the other control(s) from the same selected

group has (have) 8 white handles (each).

To select controls at random, click one of them. Press and hold either Shift or Ctrl. Then

click each one of the needed controls.

Practical Learning: Selecting Controls on a Parent

1. Open the Form11a application


2. If the form is not displaying, in the Resource View, expand the Form11a resources
   and expand the Dialog folder. Then double-click IDD_FORM11A_FORM
   On the form, click the lower Edit box. Notice that it displays 8 handles around:


3. To select controls in a range, click and hold the mouse from the upper left section of
   the dialog box. Then drag down and to the right, drawing a rectangle that includes all
   three buttons in the top section of the dialog box: