Using Win32 (WinAPI) Functions in Microsoft Visual FoxPro

Code sample: Obtaining memory performance information for the system

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:54:29 EST

Memory performance information is available from the memory manager through the system performance counters and through functions such as GetPerformanceInfo, GetProcessMemoryInfo, and GlobalMemoryStatusEx.

API function: GetPerformanceInfo

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:20:13 EST

Retrieves the performance values contained in the PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION structure.

Code sample: Finding out if the current user is the Guest account

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:18:00 EST

In this code sample, the CurrentUser class wraps call to the NetUserGetInfo that populates USER_INFO_1 structure. The usri1_priv member of this struture indicates if the user account is Guest or Admin.

Code sample: Enumerating Performance Counters

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:28:41 EST

The counter is the mechanism by which performance data is collected. The registry stores the names of all the counters, each of which is related to a specific area of system functionality.

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Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

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Code sample: Writing entries to custom Event Log

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:40:12 EST

This code sample explains how to add entries to event logs using Event Logging API.

Code sample: How to register custom Event Log source

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:21:23 EST

A custom event log is placed in Application and Services Logs.

API function: GetErrorMode

Thu, 27 May 2010 13:58:27 EST

Retrieves the error mode for the current process.

API function: SetHandleInformation

Thu, 27 May 2010 13:46:22 EST

Sets certain properties of an object handle.

API function: SetSearchPathMode

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:21:21 EST

Sets the per-process mode that the SearchPath function uses when locating files.

API function: MoveFileTransacted

Tue, 25 May 2010 10:57:00 EST

Moves an existing file or a directory, including its children, as a transacted operation.

API function: CreateFileTransacted

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:26:24 EST

Creates or opens a file, file stream, or directory as a transacted operation. The function returns a handle that can be used to access the object.

API function: RemoveDirectoryTransacted

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:14:00 EST

Deletes an existing empty directory as a transacted operation.

API function: DeleteFileTransacted

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:07:31 EST

Deletes an existing file as a transacted operation.

Extended MessageBox .NET Assembly full version is available

Sat, 08 May 2010 21:49:40 EST

Extended MessageBox .NET Assembly is avaialble for purchase and download on the web site. The download includes VS2005 C# Class Library project with complete source code of the assembly.

Extended MessageBox .NET Assembly trial version is available

Tue, 04 May 2010 17:37:48 EST

Fully functional trial version of Extended MessageBox .NET Assembly is avaialble for download on the web site.

Regular version is coming soon.

API function: mciGetDeviceID

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:50:36 EST

Retrieves the device identifier corresponding to the name of an open device.

API function: mciSendCommand

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:40:40 EST

Sends a command message to the specified MCI device.

Extended MessageBox Library: Text Input control available

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:18:20 EST

The library now allows displaying Text Input control: single-line, password, multiline.

Windows 7 support added to the Extended MessageBox library (FLL) for Visual FoxPro

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:36:00 EST

Due to some changes in the MessageBox dialog window internal structure brought with Window 7, until recently the library could not be used with this OS version. A patch has been added resolving this issue.

Code sample: Adding a background image to VFP report (VFP9, ReportListener)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:31:39 EST

API function: GdipScaleTextureTransform

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:30:29 EST

Updates this texture brush"s current transformation matrix with the product of itself and a scaling matrix.

API function: GdipCreateTexture

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:25:09 EST

Creates a brush that contains an Image object that is used for the fill.

Code sample: Yet another modal dialog: now HTML-based

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:26:39 EST

The ShowHTMLDialog displays modal dialog that is functionally similar to the dialogs created by MessageBox and TaskDialog functions.

A very attractive feature of this dialog is its HTML-based content. The window title, and whole client part of the dialog are defined strictly in HTML terms. This is like a limited IE window.

API function: ShowHTMLDialog

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:20:39 EST

Creates a modal dialog box that displays HTML.

API function: CreateURLMonikerEx

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:54:00 EST

Creates a URL moniker from a full URL, or from a base context URL moniker and a partial URL.

Code sample: Using Month Calendar Control (VFP9, Comctl32.dll)

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:20:53 EST

A month calendar control implements a calendar-like user interface. This provides the user with a very intuitive and recognizable method of entering or selecting a date.

Code sample: Displaying hypertext links with the SysLink control (VFP9)

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:53:37 EST

The SysLink control provides a convenient way to embed hypertext links in a window.

A SysLink control is a window that renders marked-up text and notifies the application when the user clicks an embedded link.

Code sample: How to display advanced Task Dialog (Vista)

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:59:53 EST

The TaskDialogIndirect displays highly adjustable task dialog.

The task dialog contains application-defined icons, messages, title, verification check box, command links, push buttons, and radio buttons.

API function: TaskDialogIndirect

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:29:39 EST

Supported on Vista and WIndows 7. Creates, displays, and operates a task dialog. The task dialog contains application-defined icons, messages, title, verification check box, command links, push buttons, and radio buttons.

API function: TaskDialog

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:31:31 EST

Supported on Vista and WIndows 7. Creates, displays, and operates a task dialog. The task dialog contains application-defined message text and title, icons, and any combination of predefined push buttons.

.NET version of the Extended MessageBox is coming soon

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:13:19 EST

Extended MessageBox FLL released.

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:35:28 EST

The release version of the FLL is available for purchase.

Code sample: How to find which fonts Windows uses for drawing captions, menus and message boxes

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:37:45 EST

The answer is Segoe UI, 9, N for Vista and Tahoma, 9, N for Windows XP.

Code sample updated: Adding icon to the systray (requires VFP9)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:40:14 EST

API function: UuidToString

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:31:03 EST

Converts a UUID to a string.

API function: UuidCreate

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:25:00 EST

Creates a new UUID.

Download demo version of the Extended MessageBox library (FLL) for Visual FoxPro

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:32:59 EST

API function: CreateDIBSection

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:41:17 EST

Creates a DIB that applications can write to directly.

Extended MessageBox library (FLL) for Visual FoxPro is coming soon...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:40:29 EST

Visual FoxPro applications now can control a variety of MessageBox dialog settings, including dialog initial position and size, message font and font color, dialog background, button captions and fonts, dialog icon and more.

API function: GetDlgCtrlID

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:48 EST

Retrieves the identifier of the specified control.

API function: GetDlgItem

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:57:11 EST

Retrieves a handle to a control in the specified dialog box.

Code sample: Printing Image File, programmatically set print page orientation to landscape

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:01:57 EST

DEVMODE data for a printer can be obtained by calling either the DocumentProperties or the PrintDlg API function. If required, the latter can display the Print dialog box allowing to adjust the printer job settings manually.

API function: GdipGetPageScale

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:29:49 EST

Gets the scaling factor currently set for the page transformation of this Graphics handle.

API function: GdipSetPageScale

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:29:08 EST

Sets the scaling factor for the page transformation of this Graphics handle.

API function: GdipSetPageUnit

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:58:05 EST

Sets the unit of measure for this Graphics handle.

API function: GdipGetPageUnit

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:54:10 EST

Returns an element of the Unit enumeration that indicates the unit of measure currently set for this Graphics handle.

ACOS3 Smart Card Class Library for Visual FoxPro

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:02:55 EST

ACOS3 VFP Class Library adds secure data echange with ACOS3 smart cards to Visual FoxPro applications.

Code sample updated: Switching between keyboard layouts

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:24:47 EST

The form displays keyboard layouts available for the current process and allows switching between layouts.

If run in VFP9, this form also tracks switches between layouts initiated by hot keys (the form must be in focus at the moment of switch).

Code sample: Disconnecting USB Mass Storage Device programmatically

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:17:19 EST

USB Storage Devices can be disconnected (removed safely) in VFP code. This is the same safe procedure as the system utility uses.

Code sample: Reading and setting system access privileges for the current process

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:40:34 EST

A privilege is the right of an account, such as a user or group account, to perform various system-related operations on the local computer, such as shutting down the system, loading device drivers, or changing the system time.

Code sample: How to enable the SE_SHUTDOWN_NAME privilege for the application

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:15:14 EST

To shut down or to reboot the system (API calls ExitWindowsEx, InitiateShutdown and others) the process must have the SE_SHUTDOWN_NAME privilege (default behaviour on Vista).

Code sample: Starting a dialog box for connecting to network resources and passing input parameters

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:33:25 EST

This code sample is an extension of "#309. Starting a dialog box for connecting to network resources".

The code is written around the WNetConnectionDialog1 function and provides a better control of the network connection dialog through input parameters.

Code sample: How to control Adobe Reader 9.0 (SDI mode) from VFP application

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:58:28 EST

Each Adobe Reader 9 window is created from window class AcrobatSDIWindow and parented by the Windows Desktop. Enumeration of child windows of this class within the Desktop window returns the exact number of open Adobe Acrobat 9 documents.

The AdobeReaderSDIWindow class is able to virtually "click on" an item in the main menu of Adobe Reader 9 window and in this way to control some of the functionality.

Code sample: GDI+: Color Transparency

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:32:05 EST

With the GDI+, an image can be drawn on a Graphics object having a selected single color or a range of colors made transparent.

Code sample: GDI+ fun: roach-infested desktop

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:35:48 EST

Bugs are frantically running for shelter in all directions all over the main VFP window. This hardly can scare a seasoned VFP developer. But unsuspecting user ought to beware.

Code sample: GDI+: Creating thumbnails to preview images in a directory

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:22:48 EST

This code sample displays thumbnails for JPEG images found in a specified directory. The thumbnails on the form are dynamically highlighted following the movements of the cursor.

Code sample: GDI+: Scrolling through large image with the mouse

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:33:01 EST

The pictures taken with modern digital cameras are usually wider and higher than above average display resolution.

1920 by 1200 pixels, which requires fairly decent video card and monitor these days, is only 2.3 megapixel size. Uncropped 10.1 megapixel shot taken with Canon EOS 400D is 3888 by 2592 pixels -- roughly two times higher and wider.

Code sample: Enumerating devices installed on the local machine

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:42:30 EST

The PnP manager maintains a device tree that keeps track of the devices in the system.

The device tree contains information about the devices present on the system. The PnP manager builds this tree when the machine boots, using information from drivers and other components, and updates the tree as devices are added or removed.