Howto change of caption buttons (min/max/close)?

[Alexander Holzer]

I need to load own graphics (bitmap or icon) in caption buttons (min/max/close).
Supported PBWin this option? how can make it better?

Many thanks

[Dominic Mitchell]

You will have to draw those. Before Vista, it was done during the WM_NCPAINT message.

[Alexander Holzer]

You will have to draw those. Before Vista, it was done during the WM_NCPAINT message.

Minimal example please.

Thanks

P.S. it make for WinXP only

[Cliff Nichols]

Dominic,
Just so I know

Before Vista, it was done during the WM_NCPAINT message.

A hint of warning there? or You have not tried under VISTA?

Any avoidance of problems in my future is worth EVERY nugget

[Alexander Holzer]

I found still no solution... i continue to try

[Dave Biggs]

Alex,
Here's an example from Semen that should be useful.

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/forums/Forum7/HTML/000597.html

Found 60 odd hits in POFFS with a search "WM_NCPAINT".

POFFS offline search engine for PB Forums - download here: http://www.reonis.com/POFFS/index.htm
- Wouldn't be without it

[Alexander Holzer]

Thanks, I look at it tomorrow... now already 01:13 night :sleeping:

[Dominic Mitchell]

With the Aero feature on Vista, code that was used on XP and older systems to draw
in the non-client area of a top-level window will not work properly on Vista. The new
Desktop Windows Manager(DWM) will detect this and remove the glass frame leaving the
window with the old basic frame. This allows the old code to modify the non-client
area, but the result will probably not be very appealing.

For a primer, see this link

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969540(VS.85).aspx

[Paul Purvis]

would it not be popular or impossible to replicate the the caption bar in the client area?
paul

[Alexander Holzer]

I look for an example with loading own image in caption for change default buttons (min/max/close)!
Unfortunately I found no example with %WM_NCPAINT for this procedure.

[Michael Mattias]

Here's an alternate idea for you to try ...

Instead of trying to CHANGE the bitmaps for SC_CLOSE et al on the system menu, delete the items of interest from your (copy of , obtained with GetSystemMenu()) the system menu and then add your 'custom' items with the complete style info (e.g MFT_BITMAP) with AppendMenu().

(min/max/close are not in the caption area, they are on the system menu)

[Alexander Holzer]

...

(min/max/close are not in the caption area, they are on the system menu)

1)
system menu:
- SC_CLOSE, SC_MINIMIZE (or SC_ICON), SC_MAXIMIZE (or SC_ZOOM) and have own icons
This code works fine.

Caption buttons (Nonclient-Area Components):
- WS_SYSMENU, WS_MINIMIZEBOX, WS_MAXIMIZEBOX have own icons...

----------
   |_|H|X|
----------

Here's an alternate idea for you to try ...

Instead of trying to CHANGE the bitmaps for SC_CLOSE et al on the system menu, delete the items of interest from your (copy of , obtained with GetSystemMenu()) the system menu and then add your 'custom' items with the complete style info (e.g MFT_BITMAP) with AppendMenu().

2) Thanks for idea, but I have tried - does not work.

[Patrice Terrier]

The best way to achieve this on VISTA, as well as on older Windows version, is to take control over the whole Window in plain SDK mode using the CreateWindowEx API.

I have explained the whole process in details on José Roca's forum, in the "SDK programming" section.

Note: The way i am doing this on VISTA, is the only way to write on the DWM composited section, and this can only be done if you are using plain ARGB colors and 32-bit graphic component using the alpha channel (like transparent png).

I know it would seem cumbersome to most of you, but this is the only way to control everything.
See the demo that i have posted there:
http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pb...ad.php?t=36361
The result acts exactly like a "native" window, and because it uses a "skin", you can even design one using the VISTA look on XP.

...

[Michael Mattias]

Ok, so you meant those things. (minimize box, et al).

But why would you want to replace the familiar icons with something else? Seems to me that would only confuse users.

I mean, even the icon-challenged (moi) know what clicking the "X" does.....

[Alexander Holzer]

Hello, Michael,
have you heard about Style guide?
..then you should not ask this question

In the certain cases, it concerns the basic/main interface too (..graphic design guides).

For today appearance of the interface created by many programming language is considered primitive, without ergonomics.

[Michael Mattias]

Nice link.

But... not one of the referenced style guides has a thing to do with computer software.

I should have known this thread would end unpleasantly for me.

Sheesh, I must be one of those of whom it was once said there's one born every minute.

MCM

[Alexander Holzer]

it comes still...

[Alexander Holzer]

The solution for this moment is covering of "default buttons" with new buttons.
Helpful Link, Thanks Peter Redei.

I have applied "CONTROL ADD IMGBUTTONX, ..." for image-buttons