getting the size of the window

i started with the main window and i simply want to place a pushbutton at the bottom left hand corner of the window. and i was going to use a function to get the width/length of the window (NOT the screen) so i can calculate exactly where i want the button to be placed instead of using just hard coded numbers (pixel values).

i know of GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN) and GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN) to get the total width and length of the entire screen, but i just want the width and lenght of the main window i'm working on.

is there a function to do this? if so how is it implemented?

thanks.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=getclientrect

so i should just use variable type RECT to get from the function such as used like:

Code:

---

GetClientRect(hwnd, clientrect);

---

and clientrect would be defined as such

Code:

---

RECT clientrect;

---

right? and what would i do with this RECT structure afterwards? for instance, what kind of units are they in? why would you want teh upper right and left values, because wouldnt they be zero because it's the top?

:confused:

OK, handle the WM_SIZE message. The width/height of client area are passed in the lParam.

Code:

---

clientWidth = LOWORD(lParam);  // width of client area
clientHeight = HIWORD(lParam); // height of client area

---

After that call MoveWindow on your button.

Code:

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// buttonWidth, buttonHeight previously declared.
MoveWindow( hWndButton, /*handle to button*/
                        30, /*pixels from left side of window*/
                        clientHeight - buttonHeight - 30, /* distance from bottom*/
                        buttonWidth,
                        buttonHeight,
                        1, /*tell it to redraw the window*/ );

---

Hope that helps.
-Futura

Sorry, I responded kinda quick :) To answer your questions:

>RECT clientrect;
>GetClientRect(hwnd, clientrect);

This won't work because GetClientRect expects the memory address of a rect. Do this:

Code:

---

GetClientRect(hwnd, &clientrect);

---

>what would i do with this RECT structure afterwards? for instance, what kind of units are they in? why would you want teh upper right and left values, because wouldnt they be zero because it's the top?

You don't need the left / top values - they will always be set to zero anyways the other two values will be the width and height of the window's client area in pixels.

Hope at least one of my posts helps... :)

-Futura

You can call GetWindowRect() to get the screen coordinates of the main window. Then based on these values you can set the coords of your button.

For example, imagine the coords of your main dialog are: <50, 75, 300, 400> and that corresponds to <left, top, right, bottom>. After doing this:

Code:

---

RECT rect;
GetWindowRect(hwnd, &rect);

---

The rect struct will be filled with those values.

Then figure out the coords for your button. If you want it to be 40 units tall and 70 units wide at 5 units away from either border do this:

Code:

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int height = 40;
int width = 70;
int buf = 5;

RECT btnRect;
btnRect.bottom = rect.bottom - buf;
btnRect.top = btnRect.bottom - height;
btnRect.left = rect.left + buf;
btnRect.right = btnRect.left + width;

---

Now you have a rect containing the coords of your button. Keep in mind I wouldn't code anything like this (i mean the way I created variables just to do the addition with), but it's for clarity.

HTH.

okay, thanks all! i figured it was just easier to handle the wm_size message so that's what i ended up doing. thanks again!

Lucky, your method may not work as well as using GetClientRect(), because GetWindowRect() will give you screen co-ordinates, whereas the idea here is to get dimensions relative to (0,0) of the client area. Using GetWindowRect() will not account for borders, menus, captions, etc.

You're absolutely right. Thanks for the correction!

No problem. The best way to learn is to make mistakes! That's what the CBoard is all about really.