Updating Static Control Color Real-Time :: MFC

Hi.

What is the best way to update the background color of one or more static/edit control in a dialog box? For example, I have a static control in a dialog box that I use to depict font color. If the user sets the font to have green color, than the user will see a static control that is green. Initially, I use WM_CTLCOLOR to update the color of the static control. The problem is it only works when the dialog first initializes. Once it has been initialized, I cannot figure out how to update the static control after the user have selected a different color. I try PostMessage(WM_CTLCOLOR, 0, 0), however, the program crashes. It seems ON_WM_CTLCOLOR only works when the dialog is initialized.

Here is the code.

-----
HBRUSH CMyDlg::OnCtlColor(CDC* pDC, CWnd* pWnd, UINT nCtlColor)
{
HBRUSH hbr = CPropertyPage::OnCtlColor(pDC, pWnd, nCtlColor);

if (pWnd->GetDlgCtrlID() == IDC_STATICCOLOR)
{
// m_pBrush is a pointer to a brush object I use containing the
// font color I the user wants

if (m_pBrush != NULL)
{
delete m_pBrush;
m_pBrush = NULL;
}

m_pBrush = new CBrush(m_Color);
hbr = static_cast<HBRUSH>(m_pBrush->GetSafeHandle());
}
-----

Please post if you have any idea on a possible solution.

Thanks,
Kuphryn

The msg is only sent when windows needs to repaint the control's background so try Invalidating the control ( or its parent) with InvalidateRect ( you want to erase the background):

ie:

CWnd_Derived_Control_object->InvalidateRect(0);

or

CWnd_Derived_Control_object.InvalidateRect(0);

Yeah.

The solution is calling Invalidate(). It repaints the dialog box and update all static controls.

Thanks,
Kuphryn