Thread: How to add bitmaps to pulldown menu items?

Hello everyone,

I am trying to figure out how to add bitmaps next to pulldown menu items. These could be standard images such as the classical opened file image for "file open" toolbar button, or custom bitmaps. I would be happy to find a tutorial on the subject, or better still, some example code. MSDN library gives no information on this subject that I could discover and I found next to nothing about it via Google. But, there are lots and lots of WINDOWS apps out there that add this nice finishing touch and I'd like to know how to do it.

I am compiling using MinGW gcc, not using Visual Studio/VCE, and not doing C++ either, just plain old C.

Regards,
Mark Allyn

Look up "Owner Drawn" controls... menus etc.

The base Windows API provides for you to manually draw any control element.

Hello Commentater,

Spent yesterday studying your suggestion. Looked at a bunch of C++ code illustrating how to do owner draw menus. I don't code in C++ so these examples were not very useful, but I have to admit they certainly could produce thrilling menus. I did find one MSFT tute in C and I'll have to look at it more carefully. Generally, a discouraging and overly long outing on the internet.

However, I did find a rough solution using the SetMenuItemBitmaps API. All it requires is to load a Bitmap and take a handle to it and use it in the SetMenuItemBitmaps() function. Works fine. I'll admit it doesn't produce an astonishingly brilliant menu, but it works.

Regards,
Mark Allyn

Glad you got something going on...

Have you seen the Forger's Tutorial
And how about Catch22

Both have been exceptionally helpful to me over the years..

Good morning, Commentator,

As a matter of fact, I had consulted Forger more than once over the years, but I hadn't ever paid attention to the name. So, when I turned up the link you sent I was surprised to see a familiar face.

As for Catch22--you're right! Lots of interesting material here, especially on subclassing.

Thanks and Regards,
Mark Allyn

Actually, I got it, first time I saw your name. I thought "Common Potato?", no, oh Commontator, OK.

Seemed obvious.

Originally Posted by Adak

Actually, I got it, first time I saw your name. I thought "Common Potato?", no, oh Commontator, OK.

Seemed obvious.

Well, a joke only works if it's obvious...