Splash Screen C++ Class without MFC or .NET

• Download source code - 41.1 KB
• Download sample application - 48.62 KB

Introduction

Every application needs an “about box” and some need a “splash screen” while loading. Most developers use the boring “about dialog” that is created automatically. I created the class, CSplashScreen, to handle both, to make them less error prone and to make them more interesting. I use this class for programs from tiny dialog applets to complex applications that take a couple of minutes to load and initialize.

The class consists of two files, SplashScreen.h and SplashScreen.cpp. The class does not require MFC or .NET. I have another class that uses MFC.

The class gets all the information to display the splash screen from a bitmap and the version strings in the resources. Therefore, you don’t have to modify the splash screen every time the version changes.

The splash screen disappears when clicked on, a key is pressed, or the desired time has elapsed.

Using the code

• Include SplashScreen.h and SplashScreen.cpp.
• Add version strings to the resources.
• Add the IDB_SPLASH bitmap to the resources.
• Add version.lib to the link libraries.

ShowSplashScreen(HWND pParentWnd, LPCTSTR statusMessage, int millisecondsToDisplay) can have zero to three parameters.

• pParentWnd - parent window of splash screen
• statusMessage - string to display in status area of splash screen
• millisecondsToDisplay - number of milliseconds before hiding splash screen

To show the splash screen during initialization, add CSplashScreen::ShowSplashScreen();.

#include "SplashScreen.h"

int APIENTRY WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance,
                     HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
                     LPSTR     lpCmdLine,
                     int       nCmdShow)
{
    MSG msg;
    
    // display splash screen and have it turn off after 10 seconds
    CSplashScreen::ShowSplashScreen( hWnd, "http://applehome.com/", 10000);
  .
  .
  .
    while (GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0))  {
        if (!TranslateAccelerator(msg.hwnd, hAccelTable, &msg)) {
            TranslateMessage(&msg);
            DispatchMessage(&msg);
        }
    }

    return msg.wParam;
}

To show the about box, add CSplashScreen::ShowSplashScreen() to WndProc(…):

#include "SplashScreen.h"

LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    switch (message) {
    case WM_COMMAND:
        // Parse the menu selections:
        switch (LOWORD(wParam)) {
        case IDM_ABOUT:
            // display about box
            CSplashScreen::ShowSplashScreen( hWnd );
            break;
        }
        break;
    default:
        return DefWindowProc(hWnd, message, wParam, lParam);
    }
    return 0;
}

Under the hood

Since I’m a consultant, I create a specialized bitmap for each client. I typically place the company logo and the application icon in the IDB_SPLASH bitmap. Depending on your artistic talent, you can make a very professional splash screen. The version strings are written on top of the bitmap.

There are 3 groupings of strings: Product Name, Body, and Status. The Body consists of one or more of the company name, version, copyright, and comment strings. I prefer the product name to be larger, with the multiple lines of the body smaller. I use Status only when the application is loading.

Each group has static variables that specify how the strings in that group are drawn:

• m_xxxVerticalOffset - empty space between the top of the bitmap and the first string
• m_xxxVerticalHeight - the maximum height of a group of strings
• m_xxxLeftMargin - the distance from the left side to the place strings
• m_xxxRightMargin - the distance from the right side to strings
• m_xxxFontName - the name of the font for strings
• m_xxxPointSize - the point size used for strings, (-1,-1) ==> Calculate point size
• m_xxxTextColor - the color used for strings

The body can have from 0 to 4 strings. Set the static display variables:

• m_displayCompanyName - true if displaying company name
• m_displayVersion - true if displaying version
• m_displayCopyright - true if displaying copyright
• m_displayComments - true if displaying comments

The CSplashScreen class is instantiated when CSplashScreen::ShowSplashScreen() is called. It is deleted when the timeout elapses, a key is pressed, or the the mouse is clicked.

History

• Date posted: April 21, 2009