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**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 05:28 AM

OK, I believe I've found the API calls I need for manipulating
bitmaps in the Win32Api Help file. But, for my final question
on this topic: does anybody know how to save a converted bitmap
into ICO format as a file on the HD? I have NO clue as to the
struct format for an icon.

Thanks in advance!

Clay Clear

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**Tom Hanlin** · 18 Apr 2001, 06:45 AM

Try here: http://www.wotsit.org/

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Tom Hanlin
PowerBASIC Staff

**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 07:30 AM

Thanks a million, Tom! That URL you passed to me had the info I's
looking for. <smile> In fact, that website is so jampacked with
info, I bookmarked it for many future visits. In fact, once
I write/debug my bitmap-to-icon converter program, I'm going
to write a program that strips MP3's of their ID Tags - there
is a plethora of requests for such a program on the Napster
and Syntrillium Forums. I'll be able to do that because I also
saw a file (or link? don't recall for sure) that provides the
specs for MP3 files. You've opened new horizons for me by
the simple passing of that URL!

Of interesting note is that, the structs within an ICO file
follow those of the ICONINFO and ICONHEADER(?) structs. And,
the help file I found on the site details the order and nature
of each of the datum's in the ICO file. The only drawback is
that the help file was written back when Win95 were the
new-kid-on-the-block. So, will have to experiment with it a bit.

Anyway, sorry for the long conversation. Thanks, again, Tom!

Clay Clear

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**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 11:38 AM

OK, I'm now experimenting with GetDIBits(). The problem is, I
get a compiler error when it comes to the line that actually
runs the code. The error says, "Variable expected"

The line I'm using is:

CF3 = GetDIBits(HDC&,CF2,1,96,%NULL,y,%DIB_RGB_COLORS)

y is declared as follows:

TYPE BITMAPINFO

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**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 11:44 AM

Sorry, pressed the wrong keys when posting my last message.

OK, I'm having problems with GetDIBits(). My PBDLL6.0 compiler
generates the error message "Variable expected" when coming to
the line that runs it. The following shows how I call the
routine:

CF3 = GetDIBits(HDC&,CF2,1,96,%NULL,y,%DIB_RGB_COLORS)

Note that CF* variables are declared in my custom INC file as
LONG's.

y is defined as follows:

TYPE BITMAPINFO
z AS BITMAPINFOHEADER
x(5000) AS RGBQUAD
END TYPE
GLOBAL y AS BITMAPINFO

Then, in a line before I call the function, I have:

y.z.biBitCount = 0

Could it be that WIN32API.INC DECLARE's the function
inappropriately? Or am I misusing the y TYPE?

Thanks in advance!

Clay Clear

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**Cecil Williams** · 18 Apr 2001, 12:57 PM

Clay,

Why did you redefine a standard windows type (aka structure)?
The BITMAPINFO type in the win32api file does not match
your description.

From the API:

Code:

TYPE BITMAPINFO
  bmiHeader AS BITMAPINFOHEADER
  bmiColors AS LONG
END TYPE

The GetDIBits function is expecting the udt in the above format.
Your second element is typed as an array of rgbquads, not a long
as the standard udt calls for. Did you include this udt after
including the API and thus overridding it?

Cheers,
Cecil

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[This message has been edited by Cecil Williams (edited April 18, 2001).]

**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 01:10 PM

Cecil,

I have done it before where I've redefined structs that were
already defined in the WIN32API.INC, without any problems.
However, I'll try your suggestion. You could be 100% on-target
with your questions, as I am finally at a loss for getting the
line to compile.

Also of note is, I just printed out some source code from
another posting in this Forum that uses GetDIBits, and I noticed
that the poster uses VARPTR for one of the FUNCTION's parameters.
So, I am going to try that FIRST. If it doesn't make it work,
then I'll apply your thoughts.

Thanks for your reply!

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**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 01:27 PM

OK, I tried *both* ideas, Cecil's and the format posted by the
other member, and I still get compiler error 426, "Variable
Expected" when I try to compile it.

Anybody have any other ideas?

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**Tom Hanlin** · 18 Apr 2001, 01:45 PM

The error message should tell you where the variable is expected,
which should do much to help solve the problem...

Many "types" used by Windows are really more like pseudo-code. You can't
use them as is, because they have variable-length portions where the length
"depends". So, it is not necessarily wrong to redefine an API UDT for your
own purposes.

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Tom Hanlin
PowerBASIC Staff

**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 01:49 PM

Got it working! I did it by using Cecil's ideas, the VARPTR for
one of the FUNCTION's parameters, and, the final fix, by using
BYVAL with ALL of the FUNCTION's parameters.

I'm sure I'll be posting MANY new questions as I continue to
learn how to manipulate images using API Calls. I am a pure
novice at such stuff, as I've never tried it before. As stated
in my original posting, I am trying to develop a program that
will convert a bitmap to an icon.

For those of you who are also interested in doing so, there is
a file on http://www.wotsit.org/ that explains in detail the
structure of an ICO file. That will help me invaluably in
writing the final code to my program. Keep in mind, though,
that the file were written when Win95 was at the top.

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**Clay Clear** · 18 Apr 2001, 08:22 PM

I am at a TOTAL loss with the GetDIBits API Call! No matter
WHICH Bitmap I use, it ALWAYS returns the biColrsUsed as 0,
the biBitCount as 32, and biCompress as BI_BITFIELDS. It even
does it on bitmaps that I *know* have a color depth of only 57!
(600x600x256). In other words, it's reflecting what my Windows
Display settings are, NOT what the bitmaps' settings are!

I think it might be because I'm using:

hDC = GetDC(%HWND_DESKTOP)

But, I don't know of any other method to get a DC for a bitmap
loaded with LoadImage(). Can anybody help me with this,
PLEASE???

Thanks!

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**Lance Edmonds** · 18 Apr 2001, 09:40 PM

Originally posted by Clay Clear:
Got it working! I did it by using Cecil's ideas, the VARPTR for
one of the FUNCTION's parameters, and, the final fix, by using
BYVAL with ALL of the FUNCTION's parameters.

This is potentially dangerous, since using BYVAL in the calling code switches off type-checking for those parameters, so unless you know exactly what you are doing, using BYVAL arbitarily may cause you more problems...

In my opinion it would have been better to solve the Error 426 problem rather than just bluntly apply BYVAL to everything in sight.

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