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4/8/2010

This function creates an overlapped, pop-up, or child window with an extended style; otherwise, this function is identical to the CreateWindowfunction.

Syntax

HWND CreateWindowEx(
  DWORD 
dwExStyle, 
  LPCTSTR 
lpClassName, 
  LPCTSTR 
lpWindowName, 
  DWORD 
dwStyle, 
  int 
x, a
  int 
y, 
  int 
nWidth, 
  int 
nHeight, 
  HWND 
hWndParent, 
  HMENU 
hMenu, 
  HINSTANCE 
hInstance, 
  LPVOID 
lpParam 
); 

Parameters

dwExStyle

[in] Specifies the extended style of the window. This parameter can be one of the following values:

Value Description

WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES

Specifies that a window created with this style accepts drag-drop files.

WS_EX_CAPTIONOKBTN

Adds an OK button in the caption bar.

WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE

Specifies that a window has a border with a sunken edge.

WS_EX_CONTEXTMENU

Adds a Help button in the caption bar.

WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME

Creates a window that has a double border; the window can, optionally, be created with a title bar by specifying the WS_CAPTION style in the dwStyleparameter.

WS_EX_INK

Indicates that no default beeping sound is generated on clicking on the window.

WS_EX_LAYOUTRTL

Creates a window whose horizontal origin is on the right edge. Increasing horizontal values advance to the left.

WS_EX_LTRREADING

The window text is displayed using left-to-right reading-order properties. This is the default.

WS_EX_NOACTIVATE

A top-level window created with this style cannot be activated. If a child window has this style, tapping it does not cause its top-level parent to be activated. A window that has this style receives stylus events, but neither it nor its child windows can get the focus. Supported in Windows CE 2.0 and later.

WS_EX_NOANIMATION

A window created with this style does not show animated exploding and imploding rectangles, and does not have a button on the taskbar. Supported in Windows CE 2.0 and later.

WS_EX_NODRAG

A window created with this style cannot be dragged using a mouse or stylus.

WS_EX_NOINHERITLAYOUT

A window created with this style does not pass its window layout to its child windows.

WS_EX_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW

Combines the WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE and WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE styles.

WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW

Combines the WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE, WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW, and WS_EX_TOPMOST styles.

WS_EX_RTLREADING

If the shell language is Hebrew, Arabic, or another language that supports reading-order alignment, the window text is displayed using right-to-left reading-order properties. For other languages, the style is ignored.

WS_EX_STATICEDGE

Creates a window with a three-dimensional border style intended to be used for items that do not accept user input.

WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW

Creates a tool window; that is, a window intended to be used as a floating toolbar. A tool window does not appear in the taskbar or in the dialog that appears when the user presses ALT+TAB. If a tool window has a system menu, its icon is not displayed on the title bar.

WS_EX_TOPMOST

Specifies that a window created with this style should be placed above all non-topmost windows and should stay above them, even when the window is deactivated. To add or remove this style, use the SetWindowPosfunction.

WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE

Specifies that a window has a border with a raised edge.

lpClassName

[in] Long pointer to an atom or null-terminated string. If this parameter is an atom, it must be a global atom created by a previous call to the RegisterClassfunction. The atom must be in the low-order word of lpClassName; the high-order word must be zero.

If lpClassNameis a string, it specifies the window class name. The class name can be any name registered with the RegisterClassfunction or any of the predefined control-class names.

lpWindowName

[in] Long pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the window name.

If the window style specifies a title bar, the window title pointed to by lpWindowNameis displayed in the title bar. When using CreateWindowto create controls, such as buttons, check boxes, and static controls, use lpWindowNameto specify the text of the control.

dwStyle

[in] Specifies the style of the window being created. This parameter can be a combination of the following window styles, plus the control styles indicated in the Remarks section.

Value Description

WS_BORDER

Creates a window that has a thin-line border.

WS_CAPTION

Creates a window that has a title bar (includes the WS_BORDER style).

WS_CHILD

Creates a child window. This style cannot be used with the WS_POPUP style.

WS_CHILDWINDOW

Same as the WS_CHILD style.

WS_CLIPCHILDREN

Excludes the area occupied by child windows when drawing occurs within the parent window. This style is used when creating the parent window.

WS_CLIPSIBLINGS

Clips child windows relative to each other; that is, when a particular child window receives a WM_PAINTmessage, the WS_CLIPSIBLINGS style clips all other overlapping child windows out of the region of the child window to be updated. If WS_CLIPSIBLINGS is not specified and child windows overlap, it is possible, when drawing within the client area of a child window, to draw within the client area of a neighboring child window.

WS_DISABLED

Creates a window that is initially disabled. A disabled window cannot receive input from the user.

WS_DLGFRAME

Creates a window that has a border of a style typically used with dialog boxes. A window with this style cannot have a title bar.

WS_GROUP

Specifies the first control of a group of controls. The group consists of this first control and all controls defined after it, up to the next control with the WS_GROUP style. The first control in each group usually has the WS_TABSTOP style so that the user can move from group to group. The user can subsequently change the keyboard focus from one control in the group to the next control in the group by using the direction keys.

WS_HSCROLL

Creates a window that has a horizontal scroll bar.

WS_MAXIMIZEBOX

Creates a window that has a Maximizebutton. Cannot be combined with the WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP style.

WS_MINIMIZEBOX

Creates a window that has a Minimizebutton. Cannot be combined with the WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP style.

WS_OVERLAPPED

Creates an overlapped window. An overlapped window has a title bar and a border.

WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW

Creates an overlapped window with the WS_OVERLAPPED, WS_CAPTION, WS_SYSMENU, WS_THICKFRAME, WS_MINIMIZEBOX, and WS_MAXIMIZEBOX styles.

Note:
Although WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW is not supported in Windows Embedded CE, the functionality can still be achieved by obtaining a bitwise OR of the style flags WS_OVERLAPPED, WS_CAPTION, WS_SYSMENU, WS_THICKFRAME, WS_MINIMIZEBOX, and WS_MAXIMIZEBOX.

WS_POPUP

Creates a pop-up window. This style cannot be used with the WS_CHILD style.

WS_POPUPWINDOW

Creates a pop-up window with WS_BORDER, WS_POPUP, and WS_SYSMENU styles. The WS_CAPTION and WS_POPUPWINDOW styles must be combined to make the window menu visible.

WS_SIZEBOX

Creates a window that has a sizing border. Same as the WS_THICKFRAME style.

WS_SYSMENU

Creates a window that has a Close (X)button in the non-client area.

WS_TABSTOP

Specifies a control that can receive the keyboard focus when the user presses the TABkey. Pressing the TABkey changes the keyboard focus to the next control with the WS_TABSTOP style.

WS_THICKFRAME

Creates a window that has a sizing border. Same as the WS_SIZEBOX style.

WS_VISIBLE

Creates a window that is initially visible.

WS_VSCROLL

Creates a window that has a vertical scroll bar.

x

[in] Specifies the initial horizontal position of the window. For an overlapped or pop-up window, the xparameter is the initial x-coordinate of the window's upper-left corner, in screen coordinates. For a child window, xis the x-coordinate of the upper-left corner of the window relative to the upper-left corner of the parent window's client area.

If xis set to CW_USEDEFAULT, the system selects the default position for the window's upper-left corner and ignores the yparameter. CW_USEDEFAULT is valid only for overlapped windows; if it is specified for a pop-up or child window, the xand yparameters are set to zero.

y

[in] Specifies the initial vertical position of the window. For an overlapped or pop-up window, the yparameter is the initial y-coordinate of the window's upper-left corner, in screen coordinates. For a child window, yis the initial y-coordinate of the upper-left corner of the child window relative to the upper-left corner of the parent window's client area. For a list box, yis the initial y-coordinate of the upper-left corner of the list box's client area relative to the upper-left corner of the parent window's client area.

If an overlapped window is created with the WS_VISIBLE style bit set and the xparameter is set to CW_USEDEFAULT, the system ignores the yparameter.

nWidth

[in] Specifies the width, in device units, of the window. For overlapped windows, nWidthis the window's width, in screen coordinates, or CW_USEDEFAULT. If nWidthis CW_USEDEFAULT, the system selects a default width and height for the window; the default width extends from the initial x-coordinates to the right edge of the screen; the default height extends from the initial y-coordinate to the top of the icon area. CW_USEDEFAULT is valid only for overlapped windows; if CW_USEDEFAULT is specified for a pop-up or child window, the nWidthand nHeightparameter are set to zero.

nHeight

[in] Specifies the height, in device units, of the window. For overlapped windows, nHeightis the window's height, in screen coordinates. If the nWidthparameter is set to CW_USEDEFAULT, the system ignores nHeight.

hWndParent

[in] Handle to the parent or owner window of the window being created. To create a child window or an owned window, supply a valid window handle. This parameter is optional for pop-up windows.

hMenu

[in] Handle to a menu, or specifies a child-window identifier, depending on the window style. For an overlapped or pop-up window, hMenuidentifies the menu to be used with the window; it can be NULL if the class menu is to be used. For a child window, hMenuspecifies the child-window identifier, an integer value used by a dialog box control to notify its parent about events. The application determines the child-window identifier; it must be unique for all child windows with the same parent window.

hInstance

[in] Handle to the instance of the module to be associated with the window.

lpParam

[in] Long pointer to a value to be passed to the window through the CREATESTRUCTstructure passed in the lParamparameter the WM_CREATEmessage.

Return Value

A handle to the new window indicates success. NULL indicates failure. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

Windows Embedded CE does not support stand-alone menu bars. The hMenuparameter must be NULL, unless it is used as a child-window identifier.

For more information about creating a window and for full descriptions of the other parameters of CreateWindowEx, see CreateWindow.

The following dwExStyleflags are not supported:

WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES

WS_EX_NOPARENTNOTIFY

WS_EX_APPWINDOW

WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW

WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT

WS_EX_RIGHT

WS_EX_LEFT

WS_EX_RIGHTSCROLLBAR

WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR

WS_EX_RTLREADING

WS_EX_LTRREADING

WS_EX_TRANSPARENT

WS_EX_MDICHILD

 

Windows CE 1.0 does not support the WS_EX_TOPMOST style. Versions 2.0 and later do.

Windows CE 1.0 and 2.0 do not support the WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW style. Versions 2.10 and later do.

The following dwStyleflags are not supported:

WS_CHILDWINDOW

WS_ICONIC

WS_MAXIMIZE

WS_MAXIMIZEBOX

WS_MINIMIZE

WS_MINIMIZEBOX

WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW

WS_POPUPWINDOW

WS_TILEDWINDOW

WS_THICKFRAME

WS_TILED

 

All windows implicitly have the WS_CLIPSIBLINGS and WS_CLIPCHILDREN styles.

Windows CE 1.0 does not support owned windows, except for dialog boxes.

If the hwndParentparameter is not NULL and WS_OVERLAPPED is specified, Windows Embedded CE resolves the conflict by implicitly giving the WS_CHILD style to the window. This gives the window a parent, not an owner. Thus, a call to the GetWindowfunction with the GW_OWNER value set returns NULL.

The CreateWindowExfunction sends WM_CREATE messages to the window being created.

The following predefined control classes can be specified in the lpClassNameparameter. Note the corresponding control styles you can use in the dwStyleparameter.

BUTTON

Designates a small rectangular child window that represents a button the user can click to turn it on or off. Button controls can be used alone or in groups, and they can either be labeled or appear without text. Button controls typically change appearance when the user clicks them. For more information about buttons and the styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Control Styles.

COMBOBOX

Designates a control consisting of a list box and a selection field similar to an edit control. When using this style, an application should either display the list box at all times or enable a drop-down list box. If the list box is visible, typing characters into the selection field highlights the first list box entry that matches the characters typed. Conversely, selecting an item in the list box displays the selected text in the selection field. For a table of the combo box styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Combo Box Styles.

EDIT

Designates a rectangular child window into which the user can type text from the keyboard. The user selects the control and gives it the keyboard focus by clicking it or moving to it by pressing the TABkey. The user can type text when the edit control displays a flashing caret; use the mouse to move the cursor, select characters to be replaced, or position the cursor for inserting characters; or use the BACKSPACEkey to delete characters. For more information about edit controls and the styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Control Styles.

LISTBOX

Designates a list of character strings. Specify this control whenever an application must present a list of names, such as filenames, from which the user can choose. The user can select a string by clicking it. A selected string is highlighted, and a notification message is passed to the parent window. For more information about list boxes and the styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Control Styles.

MDICLIENT

Designates an MDI client window. This window receives messages that control the MDI application's child windows. The recommended style bits are WS_CLIPCHILDREN and WS_CHILD. Specify the WS_HSCROLL and WS_VSCROLL styles to create an MDI client window that allows the user to scroll MDI child windows into view.

SCROLLBAR

Designates a rectangle that contains a scroll box and has direction arrows at both ends. The scroll bar sends a notification message to its parent window whenever the user clicks the control. The parent window is responsible for updating the position of the scroll box, if necessary. For more information about scroll bars and the styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Control Styles.

STATIC

Designates a simple text field, box, or rectangle used to label, box, or separate other controls. Static controls take no input and provide no output. For more information about static controls and the styles you can specify in the dwStyleparameter, see Control Styles.

Although the dwExStyleWS_EX_CONTROLPARENT is not supported in Windows CE 5.0 and earlier, it is a required flag for the Windows CE 5.0 with the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack and later when using CreateWindowEx. Platform Builder may generate a warning message that WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT is not supported but this message can be ignored and is harmless.

Requirements

Header winuser.h
Windows Embedded CE Windows CE 1.0 and later
Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Version 5.0 and later

See Also