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Window handle

How do you retrieve the handle of the main window in an SDI application? I need the HWND value for various procedures, but not sure if I have it correctly. Example prefered.

Thanks

jtwine100697

Assuming you are using MFC, try AfxGetMainWnd(). That will return a CWnd*, from which you can obtain the HWND.

-=- James.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

HoJu

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vsinha

I think a simpler solution would be:

hwndMain = (HWND) GetWindow(hwnd, GWL_OWNER);

I am however not an expert (currently) in this topic, so try it and correct me if I am wrong.

vsinha

sorry about the previous comment, it should have been:

I think a simpler solution would be:

hwndMain = GetParent(hwnd);

I am however not an expert (currently) in this topic, so try it and correct me if I am wrong.

jtwine100697

"vsinha", you are assuming that the immediate parent will be the main window...

That is not always the case. :P

-=- James.

vsinha

Jtwine, I guess this is not my question, but it would be very helpful if you could give me an example where my soln. won't work and yours will. Also could you explain why?

jtwine100697

If you are in, say, a dialog box, or in a custom control that is implemented in a window (or in the view of an MFC Doc/View MDI application), the parent of the "current" window might not be the "main window" of the application. (Note the question reads "various procedures". That could mean various windows.)

You (We) need more details on the specifics of where "jerm" wants to obtain the main window from. If using MFC, AfxGetMainWnd() works... Anywhere.

-=- James.

vsinha

jtwine, thanks. If you are not using MFC would this function work:

HWND GetMainWnd(HWND hwnd)
{
while (GetParent(hwnd) != NULL)
hwnd = GetParent(hwnd);

return hwnd;
}

[written, based on the fact that the parent of the main window is NULL]

Also didn't HoJu`s soln. have the same drawback as mine.

jtwine100697

Yes, the function (loop) will work as expected. (That, BTW, is similar to how MFC delegates control [updates] for Context Menus!)

And yes, the Answer posted by "Hoju" has the same problem. That is why I try to contain myself and post suggestions before wasting time with possibly incorrect answers! :)

-=- James.