How to add a button in win32 app

[dellthinker]

Hi, this is my first win32 program and I'm making changes while I learn. I have a win32 window that needs functionality and I started looking into how to add buttons to your win32 program from here,

#include <windows.h>

LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProcessMessages(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM param, LPARAM lparam);

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE currentInstance, HINSTANCE previousInstance, PSTR cmdLine, int cmdCount)
{
	// Register the window class
	const char* CLASS_NAME = "m0nst3r";
	WNDCLASS wc{};
	wc.hInstance = currentInstance;
	wc.lpszClassName = CLASS_NAME;
	wc.hCursor = LoadCursor(0, IDC_ARROW);
	wc.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)COLOR_WINDOW;
	wc.lpfnWndProc = WindowProcessMessages;
	RegisterClass(&wc);

	// Create the window
	CreateWindow(CLASS_NAME, "Windows Look e-Tr0n",
		WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW | WS_VISIBLE,			// Window style
		CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT,				// Window initial position
		800, 600,						// Window size
		0, 0, 0, 0);

	// Window loop
	MSG msg{};
	while (GetMessage(&msg, 0, 0, 0)) {
		TranslateMessage(&msg);
		DispatchMessage(&msg);
	}

	return 0;
}

LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProcessMessages(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM param, LPARAM lparam) {
	switch (msg) {
	case WM_DESTROY:
		PostQuitMessage(0);
		return 0;
	default:
		return DefWindowProc(hwnd, msg, param, lparam);
	}
}

This is the first window I have I need a little advice as to how to add a button to start making it a program.

[ovidiucucu]

A button is usually placed in a dialog box, which is created by calling CreateDialog or DialogBox and is based on a dialog box template resource.

DialogBox(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_DIALOG_TEMPLATE_ID), hWndOwner, DialogProcedure);

Attached here is a simple example which can show an "About" dialog box, containing an "OK" button.
DemoWin32App.zip

[wolle2]

I have a win32 window that needs functionality

If the primary purpose isn't to learn Win32, it may be easier to use a GUI framework. There are many available, but I tried Win32++ some time ago and liked it very much.

https://win32-framework.sourceforge.net/

I started with one of the supplied demo applications and modified it to fit my needs.

[dellthinker]

A button is usually placed in a dialog box, which is created by calling CreateDialog or DialogBox and is based on a dialog box template resource.

DialogBox(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_DIALOG_TEMPLATE_ID), hWndOwner, DialogProcedure);

Attached here is a simple example which can show an "About" dialog box, containing an "OK" button.
DemoWin32App.zip

Excellent, now I just need to know how to edit this. How would someone begin programming this solution?

[ovidiucucu]

Excellent, now I just need to know how to edit this. How would someone begin programming this solution?

First, install an IDE, as for example Visual Studio (Community edition is complete and free for your purpose). Then, keep ahead!
Visual Studio Community