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I'm trying to draw on a button that i have the handle to, but i did not create or own. I tried to use the SetClassLong() to set the WndProc, just process the WM_PAINT message, and return the rest to the old WndProc message. It doesn't work though. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
You don't need to override the button wndproc. If you give the button the BS_OWNERDRAW style, whenever the button needs to be drawn you'll get a WM_DRAWITEM messagein your main wndproc. The LPARAM for this message is a pointer to a DRAWITEMSTRUCT, which gives info on what button needs to be drawn (if you have several) and if the button has been clicked etc. You'll have to draw the whole button, though.
Doesn't owner drawn send it to the parent window? My program is not the parent window, so i can't do it that way.
Yes, sorry I didn't realise you didn't create the button (should have read your post properly). I'm not sure if it's possible, overriding will only work if the window your trying to override is a child of your window. Why do you want to draw on someone else's program?
Why would Windows Blinds (or whatever it's called) want to change how a window looks? Same concept, I think people might like it.
Anyway...You don't think I can override it like that. Do you have any other ideas on how to do it?
Thanks for the help.
Actually, you might be on the right track with subclassing, but you'll have to implement a system wide hook. I'm not entirely sure how it would work but you may want to look at SetWindowsHookEx() and intercept button paint messages. There are a few tutorials that can be found using google.
I am learning Windows programming (and I absolutely love it), but I'm not sure of the technical way to do this.
But I do have an idea. Why not just make your own custom button and the WndProc for that so you don't have to worry about intervening in the button control?
Does that sound plausible?
--Garfield
>Why not just make your own custom button and the WndProc for that so you don't have to worry about intervening in the button control?
Because the button is in a different window, and i don't want to program what it does when clicked, i just want to redraw it.
I'll try the hook idea. Just might work.
You could try SetParent() to take control of the button then pass its messages back to the owner with SendMessage() after you have repainted.
I'm working on the SetWindowsHookEx() method, but i need a thread id from the button and i don't have that. i couldn't find a function to give me that from a window handle. anyone have any ideas?
If you're implementing a global hook then you'll want to set this parameter to zero so that it handles all threads. I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but this might help.