asked on

C++, OOP, my Windowing class structure question.

I've written a class to create windows which can then have OpenGL graphics put in them.

My current project consists of 3 files:
CWindow.cpp
CWindow.h
Main.cpp

Right now, CWindow.h has a function prototype for LRESULT CALLBACK msgHandler(...), which is my message handling function. The message handler is located in Main.cpp, along with the functions to draw an OpenGL scene. I want to move the message handler into the CWindow file somehow, to encapsulate my windows better. Unfortunately, I can't get this to work, the program just crashes (Gives me a windows messagebox saying program has performed an illegal operation).

It would be nice if I could make the message handler a member function or something. The problem is that because the handler is just a function in CWindow.cpp, it can't access the class members like member functions can.

In my current implementation with the msg handler in Main.cpp, I have created a global CWindow pointer (globWin), and then in the message handler I have code like:

CASE WM_ACTIVATE:
{
if (globWin->bActive == TRUE)
.
.
.
}

I don't know what to do if I put the message handler in the class file. Could I make the message handler a friend function and then use the THIS pointer in place of globWin?

Sketchy

ASKER

Oh BTW if I do it this way will it be possible to overload the message handler for a child class of CWindow (say a window that has some special features or something, maybe even for a button class)

Axter

Post the code.

garboua

well, you should have a method to update and fetch all your class members. our message handler can call the appropriate function, class member function.

Sketchy

ASKER

As per Axter's request, here is the code (its too big for me to post right here).

http://members.home.net/l-reynolds/newCode.zip

I've spiffed up the code a bit so that its easier to follow.

I've seen some code that does what I want, but its hard to understand. Basically rather that using classes, the dude used a struct, then he added that as additional info when he called CreateWindowEx (the last parameter), then in his message handler, he extracted the struct data(containing the variables, but NO functions) using GetWindowLong or something like that, put that data into a new temporary struct, and then used the temp struct members in the message handler.

I tried putting a struct inside my class which contained all the member variables, and it seemed to work, except in my ToggleFullscreen member function it would crash on the SetWindowLong part (I think it had issues with putting the new hWnd data into the struct or something like that). So I gave up on that.

I then had this great (I thought) idea. I created a struct, who's only component was a pointer to a CWindow. Then in CWindow, I added an instance of the struct. When i called CreateWindowEx, I used that struct as the additional component (last parameter), and then in the message handler I tried to extract that struct to access the object, but I just couldn't get it to work. I think the main problem was that at some point i needed to set the structs pointer variable equal to the current object. I tried using this->struct->objpointer = this and stuff but it just crashed.

Sorry for the long post wow.

--Thx in advance

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

wkmatt42

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Sketchy

ASKER

Thanks Matt, that's just what I wanted hehe. I tried doing something very similar but I was stupid because I put it in the RegisterWindowClass function, rather than at the end of the constructor.

Basically, here is what I had to do to get it to work:

1) put msgHandler in class as a static member
2) put that CWindow* pWindow = (CWindow*)::GetWindowLong(hwnd, GWL_USERDATA); at the top of the message handler
3) put SetWindowLong(hwnd, GWL_USERDATA, (LONG)this) at the end of the constructor

:) :) :)

Axter

Hi Sketchy,
If wkmatt42 answered your question, can you please convert his comment to an answer, so your question will get moved out of the un-answered list.

Thanks