Question

Enable secondary monitor, set resolution in VB6

Asked by: technotommy

Hello.

We are looking for functional code that:

1.  Checks if the computer is capable of dual monitor support.
2.  If dual monitor support is available, code checks if the secondary monitor is enabled.
3.  If is not enabled, code enables (attaches) it.
4.  Checks resolution.  If already enabled, or code enabled it, sets the resolution to 1024 x 768, if it is anything other than 1024x768.
5.  If secondary monitor is already enabled, only check resolution and adjust if needed.
6.  If secondary monitor is already enabled, and the resolution is correct, do nothing.

Functional VB6 code needed that works on XP and Vista.

thank you!!

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Asked On
2009-11-07 at 06:07:29ID24880405
Topics

Hardware Components

,

Development Software

,

Visual Basic Programming

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: sedgwickPosted on 2009-11-09 at 01:06:46ID: 25774340

Use the EnumDisplayDevices() API call to enumerate the display devices on the system and look for those that don't have the DISPLAY_DEVICE_ATTACHED_TO_DESKTOP flag set (this will include any mirroring devices so not all will be physical displays.) Once you've found the display device you'll need to get a valid display mode to change it to, you can find this by calling the EnumDisplaySettingsEx() API call - Generally you'd display all the available modes and allow the user to choose however in your case it sounds like this may be possible to hard-code and save you an additional step. For the sake of future-proofing your application though I'd suggest having this easily changeable without having to dig through the source every time, a registry key would be the obvious choice. Once you've got that sorted out populate a DevMode display structure with the information about the display positioning (set the PelsWidth/Height, Position, DisplayFrequency and BitsPerPel properties) then set these flags in the fields member. Finally call ChangeDisplaySettingsEx() with this settings structure and be sure to send the reset and update registry flags. That should be all you need, hope this helps,

DISPLAY_DEVICE structure import using PInvoke
EnumDisplayDevices function import
EnumDisplaySettingsEx function import
etc. the rest of them functions can be found with a simple search by name.

alos, check http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/changing-display-settings.aspx?display=Print
i'm not sure if it applicable to VB6 but i would give it a try.

<DllImport("user32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function EnumDisplayDevices(ByVal lpDevice As String, ByVal iDevNum As UInteger, ByRef lpDisplayDevice As DISPLAY_DEVICE, ByVal dwFlags As UInteger) As Boolean
End Function
 
<DllImport("user32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function EnumDisplaySettingsEx(ByVal lpszDeviceName As String, ByVal iModeNum As UInteger, ByRef lpDevMode As DEVMODE, ByVal dwFlags As UInteger) As Boolean
End Function
                                              
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by: technotommyPosted on 2009-11-16 at 06:10:03ID: 31651382

EXCELLENT WORK!!!  Great code!!!! Many thanks!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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