// Language : C/C++

// Compiled in : Borland C++ 5.5 , Mingw , ( Should compile in MS Visual C++ )

// Platform : MS-Windows
// I am : Vivek Mohan (vivekATsig9DOTcom)
// You can copy this article and directly compile it.
// INTRODUCTION
// ============
// Hi ! So you wanna know how to create a window in C++. Ahem ! Well if you hav
e not
// misunderstood we are talking about the windows API (Application Programming
// Interface) , so all Windows haters please take the back seat ! I must tell y
ou
// I too am an amateur when it comes to Windows programming , and this is a res
ult
// of what I jotted down while I was self studying programming for windows. So
if
// you are one of those expert programmers , please let me know if there are an
y
// mistakes in this code or its explanation. If you have any comments or questi
ons
// at all please mail me at the above mentioned address.
// THE LIBRARY
// ===========
# include <windows.h>
// A line you must never miss while programming for windows
// The win32 API library
// THE CLASS NAME
// ==============
const char g_szClassName [] = "My Window Class";
// A name for our windows class. Wait ! Aha ! If I'm not mistaken you are proba
bly
// thinking that the windows class is a C++ class. No it is not. This is
// completely different. It is just like what the word means. A particular clas
s
// of windows with a certain , set of characteristics and behaviour.
// You'll understand what I mean...eventually.
//
// But why const ?
// ---------------
// The class name is stored as a const char array because we won't be using
// this variable for long and are not going to modify it.
//
// But why the weird name , g_szClassName ?
// ----------------------------------------
// I don't know if this question does pop up into your mind , but
// atleast it did in mine. Well firstly I must tell you that it is
// not compulsory that you keep the same name , but these names are
// kept in accordance to certain conventions. These conventions are
// specific to win programming. Using these conventions makes sure
// that other programmers can read your code without any difficulty.
// Moreover as you move on you'll see that these words can be easily
// identified for what they represent by a careful analysis.
// PROTOTYPE FOR WndProc
// =====================
LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND,UINT,WPARAM,LPARAM);
// We'll discuss about the function when we actually
// define it.
// MAIN
// ====
int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance , HINSTANCE hPrevInstance ,
LPSTR lpCmdLine , int nCmdShow )
// if you have programmed in dos or unix , you may be familiar with the main()
// function which is the entry point for code execution. Similarily for windows
// programs WinMain is the entry point. But unlike the command line arguments
// in dos or linux "int main(int argc,char *argv[])" , WinMain(..) has a differ
ent
// set of arguments explained below.
//
// HINSTANCE hInstance
// -------------------
// This is the [h]andle to the [Instance] of the windows class in the memory. I
t
// is a handle to the executable module in the memory and plays an important ro
le
// when it comes to manipulating independent modules and stuff.(Dont worry abou
t
// it now..!).
//
// HINSTANCE hPrevInstance
// -----------------------
// This is the [h]andle to the [Prev]ious [Instance] of the windows application
.
// This is not at all important and is null for 32 bit windows programs.
//
// LPSTR lpCmdLine
// ---------------
// If you are wondering what LPSTR stands for , it is nothing but [L]ong [P]oin
ter
// to [STR]ing or char*. The long part is not important any more as far as
// win32 is concerned. lpCmdLine stands for [l]ong [p]ointer to [C]o[m]man[d]
// [Line] arguments. Unlike what you'd expect (as in dos or unix) , this is a s
ingle
// string containing all of the command line arguments and does not include the
// program name.
//
// int nCmdShow
// ------------
// This argument , as you'll see later, is useful in specifying the state of th
e
// window when drawn (like Minimized , Maximized ..etc). This is the parameter
// used in shortcuts to your applications in Windows when you want it to be
// in Maximized mode or minimized or maybe just normal.
{
// REGISTERING A WINDOW CLASS
// ==========================
// A Window class holds the information about the type of window. This
// class needs to be registered with a particular set of attributes such as ico
n,
// background colors etc which are defined in WNDCLASSEX struct. The window cla
ss
// also holds a pointer to the Procedure(or function) which controls the behavi
our
// of the windows. Once registered , any number of windows can be created with
// the same attribs without specifying the same all over again.
WNDCLASSEX wc;
// A window class wc
// Setting the different attributes of the window class
wc.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
// cbSize holds the size of the struct WNDCLASSEX
wc.style = 0;
// style stores the class style and can be usually set to 0
wc.lpfnWndProc = WndProc ;
// lpfnWndProc = [l]ong [p]ointer to [f]u[n]ction [WndProc]. This is a pointer
to
// the function WndProc which is the window procedure and controls the behaviou
r
// of the window. Remember the function WndProc we prototyped a few pages back
!
wc.cbClsExtra = 0;
// cbClsExtra stores the amount of extra memory to be allocated
// for this class of windows.This is also usually 0;
wc.cbWndExtra = 0;
// cbWndExtra stores the amount of extra memory to be allocated
// for each window of this class. This is also usually set to 0.
wc.hInstance = hInstance;
// Handle to the instance of the application
wc.hIcon = LoadIcon (NULL,IDI_APPLICATION);
// This is the icon (32x32) shown when the user presses alt+tab
// to switch between applications. Don't worry about the function
// LoadIcon (...) now.
wc.hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL,IDC_ARROW);
// The cursor that'll be displayed over the window
wc.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)(COLOR_WINDOW+1);
// Background brush to set the color of the window
wc.lpszMenuName = NULL;
// Name of a menu resource to use with this class , since we don't need
// no menus it is set to NULL.
wc.lpszClassName = g_szClassName;
// The name of the class to be identified with , if you remeber
// we had declared a const char array g_szClassName which stores'
// our window class name
wc.hIconSm = LoadIcon(NULL,IDI_APPLICATION);
// This is the handle to the icon displayed on the top left corner of the windo
w
// or on the taskbar.
// REGISTERING THE WINDOW
// ======================
if(!RegisterClassEx(&wc))
{
// The RegisterClassEx(WNDCLASSEX&) function which takes the address of
// a window class struct , attempts to register it and returns a non-zero
// value if it is able to do so. Else it returns 0.
MessageBox(NULL , "Failed to register window class" ,
"Error" , MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK );
// If the registration fails , A message is displayed using the MessageBox
// function. After running the program you'll understand how the MessageBox(...
)
// works so it doesn't need much explanation.
return 0;
// Then return 0.
}
// CREATING A WINDOW
// =================
// Now comes the part where we have to create the window

HWND hwnd;
// A handle to the window we create. The function CreateWindowEx(..) creates a
// a window and returns the handle
hwnd = CreateWindowEx(
// The returned handle is stored in hwnd
WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE ,
// Argument 1 : Is the style of the window , I have set it to 0, you can use
// other values and see what happens.
g_szClassName ,
// Argument 2 : Is the name of the registered class , so that the creator knows
// what class of window has to be created.
"Title Of Me Window !" ,
// Argument 3 : Is the title of the window
WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW ,
// Argument 4 : Is a window style parameter. You can substitute integer values
// for this and see what happens
CW_USEDEFAULT , CW_USEDEFAULT , 240 , 120 ,
// Argument 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 : Specify the window's co-ordinates and dimensions. T
he
// first two , the X and Y co-ords and the second two the width and the height
of
// the window. The CW_USEDEFAULT specifies that the window is free to choose it
s
// position. You can also specify your own integer values
NULL , NULL ,
// Argument 9 , 10 : are the handles to the Parent Window and Menu. Since our w
indow
// has no parent or a menu the values are set to NULL.
hInstance , NULL
// Argument 11 , 12 : are the handle to the application instance and the creati
on
// data which is the data that can be sent to the window being created , respec
tively
// currently NULL.
);
// End of function
// If handle to the newly created window is null , show an error and then exit
if(hwnd == NULL)
{
MessageBox(NULL , "Failed to create window"
, "Error"
, MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK );
return 0;
}
// DRAWING THE WINDOW
// ==================
ShowWindow (hwnd,nCmdShow);
UpdateWindow(hwnd);
// Now that the window has been created , it needs to be drawn and then updated
to
// make sure that it is properly drawn. The ShowWindow(...) command draws the w
indow
// The parameters are the handle to the window we created and the parameter
// nCmdShow which is one of the arguments of WinMain(..). The nCmdShow specifie
s
// the state of the window. Through the command line arguments it can be specif
ied
// wether the window should be minimized , maximized or visible...
// You can use other values sch as SW_SHOWNORMAL or SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED or
// SW_SHOWMINIMIZED etc.
// MESSAGE LOOPING
// ===============
MSG Msg;
while(GetMessage(&Msg,NULL,0,0))
// The message looping is like an engine which drives the windows application.
// What makes the window just stay right where it is until you either
// move it or close it ? After the registering and window creation this
// is the point where the real stuff takes place.
//
// The Basic Job Of the Message Loop
// ---------------------------------
// 1 . get message from the message queue , if none wait for one.
// 2 . translate the message
// 3 . dispatch the message to the window or whereever applicable
//
// Messages are generated by the system whenever you move the mouse , click or
// press a key on the keyboard. These messages are added to a message queue. Th
e
// GetMessage(...) function gets one such message at a time and returns it.
// If no message is available in the message queue then GetMessage(..)
// blocks or waits till a message is generated.
{
TranslateMessage(&Msg);
// The TranslateMessage(..) function does additional processing.
DispatchMessage (&Msg);
// This function after processing the messages dispatches the messages , where
// it is meant to be so. It may be to the window we created or to the system or
// another program.
}
return Msg.wParam;
}
// WINDOW PROCEDURE
// ================
LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc (HWND hwnd , UINT msg,WPARAM wParam , LPARAM lParam)
{
// This is the definition of the function WndProc we protoyped a few pages back
// If you remeber while registering the window class , we set the lpfnWndProc a
s
// the below function. This means that the procedure for the window
// is the function WndProc(...). The function accepts the message
// and processes according to what it is (ie what we decide).
// This function can be the Window procedure for the many windows and hence the

// handle to the window dispatching the message is passed.
switch(msg)
// Switch between different cases of message
{
case WM_CLOSE:
// The message is to close the window
// This message is sent when the user clicks on the X button on the top-right
// hand corner of the window or presses Alt+F4.
// You can add the MessageBox(...) function here and experiment
DestroyWindow (hwnd);
// The destroy window function sends the WM_DESTROY mesage to the window
// This message is handled as another case below
break;
case WM_DESTROY:
// This message destroys the window and all its child windows , before removing
the
// window from the system.
PostQuitMessage(0);
// Since we have only one window and no child windows , we just Post a quit mes
sage.
// This is done by the function PosQuitMessage(..) function , which sends a mes
sage
// WM_QUIT. But this is not processed by this function. The GetMessage(..) func
tionn
// when gets this message , returns false and the message loop ends.
break;
default:
return DefWindowProc(hwnd,msg,wParam,lParam);
// This part is not so important right now.
}
return 0;
}

// Thats it. I hope you have liked this small effort to help all you programmer
s
// out there new to win programming and wanting to create a window.
// Copyright : You are free to distribute this article as long as you don't
// use it for profitable purposes (as if you can) ,and all the messages are
// retained.