Thread: new open/save window???

  1. #1
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    new open/save window???

    I was just wondering how when you save/ load a file, you get that ugly box with windows, i can't think of how to describe it but you know what i mean. the window you get whenever you save or load. is there a way to make my own that will pop up when i try to save / load a file. I'm pretty new to win32 programming but was just wondering cause i would like to do it in the future. Thanks in advance.
    Oi Oi Oi!!!!

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    you sound like you need something other than windows.

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    such as??? i wouldn't think anything like opengl or directx or anything would be able to do this and assembly doesn't seem right either. any suggestions????
    Oi Oi Oi!!!!

  4. #4
    Refugee face_master's Avatar
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    I think he wants to make his own version of the common save/open dialog boxes. I havn't ever explored this, though.

  5. #5
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    You can always make your own dialogs for anything, someone clicks load/save, you open your dialog rather than the common dialog.

    Couple of points, there is a lot of functionality in the common dialog, it would be a substantial amount of work to write your own which had all the same features. Two, the reason people use the common dialogs is because unskiller end users are likely to have seen them before and know how to work them - thus your application is automatically user friendly when you use the standards.
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    Yeah, I basically just want it for myself though. Kinda mod windows a little bit I guess you could say. Would i have to dork in the registry to make it do this or is this actually in the kernal? That is if i wanted my own box to come up everytime i load/saved in an application. Thanks.

  7. #7
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    Originally posted by hostensteffa
    Would i have to dork in the registry to make it do this or is this actually in the kernal? That is if i wanted my own box to come up everytime i load/saved in an application. Thanks.
    Neither...... for instance - the dialog for opening files is called with the GetOpenFileName() API.....the code to initalise this is in the comdlg32.dll that ships with windows........all the apps that use it simply load that dll, get a pointer to that API and call it there.....

    To do what you are suggesting would require you doctoring the comdlg32.dll (which I suppose at least goes against your licence with Microsoft...and at most would be a b*tch of a job).....

    If I were you I would learn to live with the common dialogs......

    Come on!!!....they arent that bad!!!

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    I think he wants to replace the common dialog in other programs with one he makes?

    i dont think that is possible tho
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    (snaps fingers) darn. oh well. Thanks for all your help.
    Oi Oi Oi!!!!

  10. #10
    ¡Amo fútbol!
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    It definitely possible, just a big pain in the ass. I have seen people change the text of their start button. This seems similar, but more complicated.

    Hence, don't even bother trying unless you really know asm and windows as well.

  11. #11
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    Even if you could successfully edit the comdlg32.dll to display a new dlg it would only appear if you sent the new version of the DLL with the app and installed it in the right place.

    I would be extremely angry if an app permanently changed the appearance of any of the common dialogs in my computer.
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    ehhh the start button is actually quite easy to do, you just have to change a line in some file that i can't think of right now with a hex editor.
    Oi Oi Oi!!!!

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    To change start button text you hexedit Explorer.exe.

    As for changing the dialog boxes it is definitely possible I had a program which changed the common dialogs and added extra functionality, quick access to system folders and a favourite folders function. I don't know the name of the app I had but try searching download.com or something.

    As for coding this your self learn asm and study the dlls with windows intensively.

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    what is the API function for the open directory (tree format) dialog? thanks.

  15. #15
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    Using files and the common dialogs

    That should be what you want.
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    Those that can count and those that can't."

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