Loading .jpg images from a file

It doesn't appear as if Windows API has native support for loading .jpg or gif images. So what is the best way to load .jpg or gif images -- from a file, not a resource -- using API?

Could someone point me in the right direction?

thank you

Echidna

I would try to see if there is an ActiveX to display a jpg

OleLoadPicture can handle most image formats including jpeg & gif.

Gdiplus also has support for handling all sorts of image formats which comes as part of winxp. You can download the dll etc from ms if you don't have/use xp - do a search on this forum as i've posted a link to it a few times.

Thanks for the help.

I found an example here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q218972

http://support.microsoft.com/default...US/Loadpic.exe

The problem with it is that it doesn't realize the palette on systems that only display 265 colors -- I just happened to compile the code on my old laptop.

The image displayed using the LoadPic.exe only shows 16 colors. Is there a way to get the OleLoadPicture() function to realize the palette???

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

(I will look into the "Active X" suggestion)

Didn't know about that LoadPic example - it's a good one. Thanks.

I found the gdiplus links:

Go here to get GDI+ run-time dll - (it's called 'GDI+RTM'):

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/...psdkredist.htm

I didn't notice any problem with displaying images with more than 16 colours - nor was I aware of the 256 colour display problem either. Both interesting - but unfortunately I don't have a clue at the moment. I will take a look at it....sometime.

Good luck anyway.