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A Customized Window for MFC Applications

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4.37/5 (33 votes)
1 Dec 2008CPOL2 min read 136K   7.8K   81   37
This article is to basically explain how to create a customized drawn window for MFC applications.
Image 1

Introduction

This article came as a result of trying to create a custom border for the MFC application. The simplest way to customize the window of an application is to bind it to a specific theme that gives it the look and feel we want. But sometimes we can't get the specific design we want and more importantly, the shape we want. So that gave the idea of removing the existing borders and title bars and making the window handle the basic actions which the borders and title bar can.

So when we remove the title bar and the border from the window, we have to handle some basic actions which they perform. Those are:

  1. Moving the window
  2. Resizing the window
  3. Close, Restore and Minimize

The Code

First we can remove the title bar and clip the region for the window:

C++
BOOL CCustomFrame::OnCreateClient(LPCREATESTRUCT lpcs, CCreateContext* pContext)
{
	CRect rect;
	GetClientRect(rect);
	//Create the custom region for the window
	m_CustomRgn.CreateRoundRectRgn(rect.left + winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		rect.top + winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		rect.right - winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		rect.bottom - winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		20, 20);
		//Set the window region
        VERIFY(SetWindowRgn(m_CustomRgn , TRUE ));
	return CFrameWnd::OnCreateClient(lpcs, pContext);
}
C++
BOOL CCustomFrame::LoadFrame(UINT nIDResource, DWORD dwDefaultStyle , 
			CWnd* pParentWnd , CCreateContext* pContext)
{
	BOOL bRet = CFrameWnd::LoadFrame
		(nIDResource, dwDefaultStyle, pParentWnd, pContext);
	if(bRet)
	{
	    //Remove the titlebar from the frame using the ModifyStyle
		ModifyStyle(WS_CAPTION, WS_CLIPCHILDREN);
	    //Remove the border
		ModifyStyleEx(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,0);
	}
	return true;
}

As above, we can override the functions OnCreateClient and LoadFrame to modify the window.

Next since we remove the borders and title bar, we can use the basic events to capture the actions which now the borderless window cannot. For this, we can use...

C++
afx_msg void OnLButtonDown(UINT nFlags, CPoint point) 

... and capture the default message processing. Based on the region clicked, we can let the window process different messages which will perform the tasks. To process the messages, DefWindowProc can be used.

C++
if (r_windRects.r_Move.PtInRect(point)){
		DefWindowProc(WM_SYSCOMMAND, 
				SC_MOVE + 1 ,MAKELPARAM(point.x,point.y));
		return 0;
	}
	if (Val == -1)
		return 0;

	::SetCursor(AfxGetApp()->LoadStandardCursor(cursor));
	//Send the resize messages
	DefWindowProc(WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_SIZE + Val ,MAKELPARAM(point.x ,point.y));
	return 0;

With this part of the code, resizing and moving operations are handled. Since it processes the resizing, now we can resize the window and clip it so that we can keep the basic shape we want.

C++
void CCustomFrame::OnSize(UINT nType, int cx, int cy)
{
	CRect rect;
	GetClientRect(rect);
         //Detach the previous region
	m_CustomRgn.Detach();
	//Create and set the new region for the window!
	m_CustomRgn.CreateRoundRectRgn(rect.left + winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		rect.top + winStats.frm_clp_wdth
		, rect.right- winStats.frm_clp_wdth,
		rect.bottom - winStats.frm_clp_wdth, 30, 30);

	SetWindowRgn(m_CustomRgn, TRUE);
	CFrameWnd::OnSize(nType, cx, cy);
}

Another thing to handle is the maximization and restoration of the frame. We can't use ShowWindow(SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED) since we already clipped some of the area from the window. So the below code is used for that:

C++
int CCustomFrame::maximize(void)
{
	//The custom maximize function. 
	//This is needed since we clipped the frame and the border.
	CRect rect,rectD, rect1;
	GetClientRect(rect);
	GetWindowRect(m_PrevRect);
	//Get the screen size!
	int scrWidth  = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN);
	int scrHeight = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN);

	rect.right = scrWidth + winStats.frm_clp_wdth;
	rect.bottom = scrHeight + winStats.frm_clp_wdth;
	rect.left -= winStats.frm_clp_wdth;
	rect.top -= winStats.frm_clp_wdth;
	//Get the taskbar rect and set the bottom to taskbar rect top parameter
	CWnd* pTray = FindWindow(_T("Shell_TrayWnd"), _T(""));
	pTray->GetWindowRect(&rectD);
	rect.bottom = rectD.top + winStats.frm_clp_wdth;
	MoveWindow(rect);
	b_maximized = TRUE;
	return 0;
}

Points of Interest

The good part of doing this is that by handling some basic window actions and events, we can create the borders as we like. Since we paint the borders, they won't change prior to the Windows platform it runs (e.g.: XP or Vista). We can also use the CDialog class instead of CFrameWnd to create the custom window.

But the bad point is handling processing of many messages. Moreover, there can be small defects in drawing things like flickering. So this code might not have a commercial value, but it can be a good learning material!

History

  • 30th November, 2008: Initial version

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Student
Canada Canada
Prasad Perera is a software developer who's interested in parallel and distributed computing and graphics programming!

Currently he is following his masters in Concordia University, Montreal.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralExcellent effort ! Pin
Captain Price18-Oct-13 18:08
professionalCaptain Price18-Oct-13 18:08 
QuestionI Need to increase the width and height both are evenly. can you help me ? Pin
balaji16730-Sep-13 22:49
balaji16730-Sep-13 22:49 
QuestionVery useful, bug free code. Thanks for sharing. 5/5. Pin
Member 143041122-Oct-12 22:28
Member 143041122-Oct-12 22:28 
Questionhere you're creating customised window but I want to know how to customise window which is already created ? Pin
chaiein15-Feb-12 19:34
chaiein15-Feb-12 19:34 
Questionplease help me how to customise window which is already created? Pin
chaiein15-Feb-12 19:32
chaiein15-Feb-12 19:32 
GeneralMy Vote of +5 Pin
LaxmikantYadav18-Oct-11 2:06
LaxmikantYadav18-Oct-11 2:06 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Homero De la Garza7-Sep-11 3:58
Homero De la Garza7-Sep-11 3:58 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
PrasadPerera7-Sep-11 6:05
PrasadPerera7-Sep-11 6:05 
GeneralSample with an SDI App Pin
JRCooper18-Jun-10 13:40
JRCooper18-Jun-10 13:40 
GeneralRe: Sample with an SDI App Pin
PrasadPerera19-Jun-10 9:47
PrasadPerera19-Jun-10 9:47 
GeneralI like it very much Pin
dotcpp17-Dec-09 16:53
dotcpp17-Dec-09 16:53 
Questionhow to fit an application from winexec in rightpane of splitter window Pin
Member 333413525-Oct-09 22:48
Member 333413525-Oct-09 22:48 
GeneralSplitting Window Pin
samal.subhashree29-Sep-09 20:29
samal.subhashree29-Sep-09 20:29 
GeneralRe: Splitting Window Pin
PrasadPerera30-Sep-09 3:26
PrasadPerera30-Sep-09 3:26 
GeneralMDI Main Frame [modified] Pin
tpchen13-Apr-09 22:54
tpchen13-Apr-09 22:54 
GeneralRe: MDI Main Frame Pin
PrasadPerera16-Apr-09 16:34
PrasadPerera16-Apr-09 16:34 
GeneralRe: MDI Main Frame Pin
amacg12319-Aug-10 8:25
amacg12319-Aug-10 8:25 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
maheshvarma0926-Mar-09 5:50
maheshvarma0926-Mar-09 5:50 
GeneralRe: My vote of 1 Pin
PrasadPerera26-Mar-09 17:21
PrasadPerera26-Mar-09 17:21 
QuestionI like the look Pin
roni_rgk9-Feb-09 21:36
roni_rgk9-Feb-09 21:36 
AnswerRe: I like the look Pin
PrasadPerera11-Feb-09 13:30
PrasadPerera11-Feb-09 13:30 
GeneralLearning material Pin
AlexEvans15-Dec-08 13:57
AlexEvans15-Dec-08 13:57 
GeneralRe: Learning material Pin
PrasadPerera15-Dec-08 23:26
PrasadPerera15-Dec-08 23:26 
GeneralRe: Learning material Pin
AlexEvans16-Dec-08 10:34
AlexEvans16-Dec-08 10:34 
Hello again,

I have already removed the standard title bar and fram using the sample code

ModifyStyle(WS_CAPTION, WS_CLIPCHILDREN);
ModifyStyleEx(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,0);

Now, I want to add back - the nice colourful title bar and fram you did, without any "X" or move or minimize functionality.

Cheers
Alex
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
Member 28695518-Dec-08 11:45
Member 28695518-Dec-08 11:45 

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