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**Michael Mattias** · 21 Aug 2008, 06:38 PM

I've never seen ANY window which can't dragged. But I reckon you could maximize it, that can't be dragged anywhere.

But how can it be useful to PREVENT the console window from being dragged somewhere? Surely there is some better way to accomplish whatever this is supposed to accomplish.

**Roger Garstang** · 22 Aug 2008, 12:15 AM

I've seen some and even created some on my own. (And I have even dragged a Maximized window...) In a GUI Window you could alter the mouse like some windows do that let you drag by clicking anywhere on the window...but the opposite of this.

To stop the Drag ability you only have one option that I know of and it would work on both it and GUI is altering the System Menu.

In a GUI world I access it with:

Code:

lngSystemMenu = GetSystemMenu(HWND, 0)
RemoveMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_SIZE, %MF_BYCOMMAND 'no resize
RemoveMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_MAXIMIZE, %MF_BYCOMMAND 'no maximize

Usually removing or disabling the Move and Size menu items will prevent your Window from moving.

**Chris Holbrook** · 22 Aug 2008, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Michael Mattias View Post

Surely there is some better way to accomplish whatever this is supposed to accomplish.

Correct!

**Chris Holbrook** · 22 Aug 2008, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by Roger Garstang View Post

To stop the Drag ability you only have one option that I know of and it would work on both it and GUI is altering the System Menu.

Thank you Roger!

**Roger Garstang** · 22 Aug 2008, 07:30 AM

Glad it worked. The SC_ commands are pretty cool. You can add your own menus or use the built-in menu options. You can even call them without them being in the menu. If I recall there are a bunch of neat ones like Power Save and Screensaver options. I never played with it on a Console though, but I guess the only difficult matter is getting the Hwnd of the Console Window...CONSHNDL.

**Michael Mattias** · 22 Aug 2008, 08:53 AM

>>Surely there is some better way to accomplish whatever
>> this is supposed to accomplish.

>Correct

May we buy a vowel?

**Roger Garstang** · 22 Aug 2008, 02:26 PM

Why Yes Vanna you can!

I would say the code below, but it didn't seem to do it on my XP box..

Code:

#Compile Exe
#Dim All
 
%SC_SIZE         = &HF000&
%SC_MOVE         = &HF010&
%SC_MINIMIZE     = &HF020&
%SC_MAXIMIZE     = &HF030&
%SC_RESTORE      = &HF120&
%SC_CLOSE        = &HF060&
%MF_BYCOMMAND    = &H0&
%MF_GRAYED       = &H1&
%MF_DISABLED     = &H2& 
 
Declare Function DeleteMenu Lib "USER32.DLL" Alias "DeleteMenu" (ByVal hMenu As Dword, ByVal nPosition As Long, ByVal wFlags As Dword) As Long
Declare Function GetSystemMenu Lib "USER32.DLL" Alias "GetSystemMenu" (ByVal hWnd As Dword, ByVal bRevert As Long) As Long
 
Function PBMain () As Long
Local lngSystemMenu As Long
 
    lngSystemMenu = GetSystemMenu(ConsHndl, 0)
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_SIZE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no resize
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_MOVE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no move
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_MINIMIZE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no minimize
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_MAXIMIZE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no maximize
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_RESTORE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no restore
    DeleteMenu lngSystemMenu, %SC_CLOSE, %MF_BYCOMMAND Or %MF_GRAYED Or %MF_DISABLED 'no close
 
    Print "Try To Move Me."
    WaitKey$
End Function

Only removed the menu items, didn't disable everything like a GUI window. In searching it looks like many threads mention the same problem. Especially concerning just Disable/Grey of the item instead of remove.

(Only %MF_BYCOMMAND should be needed for the DeleteMenu, I was just trying everything, and it made it easier when moving between other menu api calls)

**Chris Holbrook** · 22 Aug 2008, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by Michael Mattias View Post

May we buy a vowel?

sorry, weather interrupted my work.

The scenario is mapping a window over an area of a console - see other contemporary thread re tooltips. If the console gets dragged away, the tooltip-owning window looks a bit silly on its own. So I thought - let's lock the console down. However, a better way is to dismiss the window when anything is done to the console, but I have been unable to identify an unambiguous message received by the tto window to trigger closing the tto. So that means looking at subclassing the console, I suppose.

Getting the tooltips to work on the console screen would be better still. I found a post by Semen here, #6 which tantalisingly mentions tooltips on a console. So far I have not suceeded in getting this to work, trying stuff along the lines of:

Code:

'
'
#COMPILE EXE
#DIM ALL
#INCLUDE "COMMCTRL.INC"
#INCLUDE "win32api.inc"

'------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOBAL  ghwnd AS DWORD
GLOBAL hWndToolTip  AS DWORD
'-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUB CreateTip(  Tip AS STRING, x AS LONG, y AS LONG, w AS LONG, h AS LONG )
    STATIC Crt          AS CREATESTRUCT
    STATIC TlInfo       AS TOOLINFO
    STATIC hInst        AS LONG
    LOCAL hdlg          AS DWORD
    LOCAL lresult AS LONG

    IF hWndToolTip THEN ' deploy tooltip
        TlInfo.hwnd = CONSHNDL
        setrect(TlInfo.rec,x, y, w, h)
        TlInfo.uId = 0 ' using rect method not window mathod
        TlInfo.lpszText = STRPTR(Tip)
        lresult = SendMessage( hwndtooltip, %TTM_ADDTOOL, 0, VARPTR( TlInfo ) )
        IF lresult = 0 THEN ? "failed to add tooltip to console
        SendMessage( hwndtooltip, %TTM_ACTIVATE, 1, 0 )
        ' no return value defined for the above message!
    ELSE 'create tooltip
        ? "init
        LOCAL ice AS INIT_COMMON_CONTROLSEX
        ice.dwSize = SIZEOF(ice)
        ice.dwICC = %ICC_WIN95_CLASSES
        InitCommonControlsEx(ice)
        hdlg = hinst
        hInst = GetModuleHandle("")
        Tip = "ToolTip"
        Crt.lpCreateParams = 0
        Crt.hInstance    = hInst
        Crt.hMenu        = 0
        Crt.hwndParent   = hinst
        Crt.style        = %WS_POPUP OR %TTS_NOPREFIX OR %TTS_ALWAYSTIP
        Crt.lpszName     = STRPTR(Tip)
        Tip = $TOOLTIPS_CLASS
        Crt.lpszClass    = STRPTR(Tip)
        Crt.dwExStyle    = %WS_EX_TOPMOST

        hWndToolTip = CreateWindowEx( %WS_EX_TOPMOST, $TOOLTIPS_CLASS, "", _
        %WS_POPUP OR %TTS_NOPREFIX OR %TTS_ALWAYSTIP OR %TTS_BALLOON, _
            %CW_USEDEFAULT, %CW_USEDEFAULT, %CW_USEDEFAULT, _
            %CW_USEDEFAULT, 0, 0, hInst, Crt )

        IF hwndtooltip = 0 THEN ?"failed to create tooltip"
        SENDmessage hWndToolTip, %TTM_SETMAXTIPWIDTH, 0, 200

        SetWindowPos( hWndToolTip, %HWND_TOPMOST, 100, 100, 300, 300, _
            %SWP_NOMOVE OR %SWP_NOSIZE OR %SWP_NOACTIVATE )

        SendMessage( hWndToolTip, %TTM_SETDELAYTIME, %TTDT_INITIAL, 100 ) 'time a pointer must remain stationary before the tooltip appears
        SendMessage( hWndToolTip, %TTM_SETDELAYTIME, %TTDT_AUTOPOP, 5000 ) 'time a tooltip window remains visible If the Pointer is stationary
        SendMessage( hWndToolTip, %TTM_SETDELAYTIME, %TTDT_RESHOW, 500 ) 'time before subsequent tooltips to appear

        '------------------------------
        TlInfo.cbSize = SIZEOF( TOOLINFO )
        TlInfo.uFlags = %TTF_SUBCLASS OR %TTS_ALWAYSTIP OR %TTS_BALLOON OR %TTF_CENTERTIP
        TlInfo.hinst = hInst
    END IF
END SUB
'--------------------------------------------------
FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG
    LOCAL s, stip AS STRING
    LOCAL point AS POINTAPI
    LOCAL chrwidth, mx, my, orgx, orgy, initialH, initialW, lineheight, w, h, x, y AS LONG

    initcommoncontrols
    initialH = 10: initialW = 40
    CONSOLE SET SCREEN initialH,initialW

    MOUSE ON
    MOUSE 3, DOUBLE, DOWN
    COLOR 7,8
    CLS
    LOCATE 3, 10: COLOR ,4: PRINT SPACE$(6)

    LOCATE 6, 20: COLOR ,2: PRINT SPACE$(6)
    CreateTip "",0,0,0,0
    DO
        SLEEP 10
        s = WAITKEY$
        IF LEN(s) = 4 THEN ' mouse event

            stip = ""
            my = MOUSEY: mx = MOUSEX
            CONSOLE GET LOC TO orgx, orgy
            CONSOLE GET SIZE TO w, h
            lineheight = h \ initialh
            chrwidth = w \ initialW

            IF (MOUSEY) = 3 AND (MOUSEX >=3) AND (MOUSEX <= 16) THEN
                y = (3-1) * lineheight : h = lineheight -1
                x = (MOUSEX-1) * chrwidth : w = 6 * chrwidth
                stip = "red"
                createtip(stip, x + orgX, y + OrgY, w, h) ' todo: need to add in NC width & height
            END IF

        ELSE
            IF s = $ESC THEN  sendmessage ghwnd, %WM_CLOSE, 0, 0
        END IF

    LOOP
    s = WAITKEY$

END FUNCTION

**Michael Mattias** · 22 Aug 2008, 03:39 PM

I have no idea if this will work, but what if you create a "real" window as a container, then made HwndConsole a child of that window using SetParent()?

Then you could display your tooltips relative to the client area of the container window.

If you are married to a 'real' console (PB/CC program, or AllocConsole) here, this won't help, but it would sure simplify tooltips:
Use Listview control as a console. September 13 2003.

I am in a really good mood today. We just installed and did a final test on a major project I have been working on for a couple of months.

These are the moments I live for, when the client executes the "one button" which is supposed to do all kinds of stuff, replacing about separate ten manual operations .. and all it works flawlessly and the client says "thank you" and means it.

Nothing like it. Anywhere. At any price.

MCM

**Chris Holbrook** · 22 Aug 2008, 05:25 PM

Originally posted by Michael Mattias View Post

... but what if you create a "real" window as a container, then made HwndConsole a child of that window using SetParent()?

I'll try it just for a laugh.

If you are married to a 'real' console (PB/CC program, or AllocConsole) here

yes I am, PBCC.

I am in a really good mood today....replacing about separate ten manual operations .. and all it works flawlessly and the client says "thank you" and means it.

have you no sympathy for the poor, hardworking clerk who you just put out of work?

**Michael Mattias** · 23 Aug 2008, 07:21 AM

>have you no sympathy for the poor, hardworking clerk who you just put out of work

Funny you should bring that up.

On Thursday I had about an hour-long phone conversation with that hardworking clerk's immediate supervisor on that exact subject. Seems there was some doubt about the project in the heart and mind of the lead operator.

Between what I've done the past fourteen years (sheesh, has it been that long?) and even more so when I was general manager of a VAR firm, I have encountered the fear, "the computer is going to cost me my job" literally hundreds of times.

While I'm sure "reducing personnel" is a goal somewhere, I have (fortunately?) never experienced. My customers' and clients' goals - as expressed by the senior management - have always been to "do more with the same" rather than "do the same with less."

Unfortunately, sometimes this does not get conveyed down the line all the way and you end up with the situation described: "Why should I lift a finger to cooperate on this project when all it's going to do is get me laid off?"

You can only have a successful software implementation when everyone is on-board and looking forward to it.

No, it's not the consultant's job to sell everyone on the project; however, it IS the consultant's job to ensure management is doing the required selling throughout the client organization.

MCM

**Rodney Hicks** · 23 Aug 2008, 09:02 AM

Productivity.
In the last twenty-five years, it seems to me, more people have got jobs because of software/hardware solutions than lost them. Usually better paying as well.
If the clerk doesn't want to learn new things, they can get left behind real quick in this ever changing world, which is the same position that management is in, and any business is in.

**Chris Holbrook** · 23 Aug 2008, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by Rodney Hicks View Post

... more people have got jobs because of software/hardware solutions than lost them...

that is counter-intuitive. Traditional businesses use IT to minimise administratitive costs. What is the largest such cost? Payroll.

**Rodney Hicks** · 23 Aug 2008, 10:41 AM

It only seems counter intuitive. Every place(3) that I'm familiar with that hired 1 IT specialist to do a job now have IT teams, with very little loss of other workers, although a good many of those other workers have slightly different job descriptions.
All 3 that I'm closely familiar with are more productive as well, getting more done from existing personnel.

While my experience does not a world make, it does seem to support MCM's

My customers' and clients' goals - as expressed by the senior management - have always been to "do more with the same" rather than "do the same with less."

**Chris Holbrook** · 23 Aug 2008, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by Rodney Hicks View Post

It only seems counter intuitive.

Rodney may I frame that one?

Every place(3) that I'm familiar with...While my experience does not a world make, it does seem to support MCM's

Not even the two of ye doth a world make.

For your story to work you have to be in a business sector that is expanding. IT has actually grown into some big sectors which are not expanding in themselves, or are doing so under severe fiscal pressure. Central and Local Government and retail would be examples. At the sharp end - the small business, a major employer here in the UK, managers will jump at the chance to shed headcount and IT in the form of PC accounting and technical applications is one of the reasons for the expansion of the sector, because it means that you don't have to employ an accountant or engineer in house.

Don't think for a moment that I'm wringing my hands about these ex-employees, or feel guilty about being involved in their little disaster - you can no more undo it than you can un-invent the bicycle. It's just the bit of history that we live in.

**Rodney Hicks** · 23 Aug 2008, 03:22 PM

Rodney may I frame that one?

Yes, since I can't counter it.

Not even the two of ye doth a world make.

Nor even the three of us.

We may be too close to some trees to see the forest.

PS
Two of those companies are expanding in while their sector is not. An aberration that may correct itself.

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