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How do I get a byte array[] from a bitmap in Windows (unmanaged) C++?

Hi:

I'm working with BITMAPs/HBITMAP/LPBITMAP in a Windows C++ application.

I'm currently loading a bitmap file into an HBITMAP via:

LPBITMAP lpBitmap = new BITMAP();
HBITMAP hBitmap = (HBITMAP)LoadImage(NULL, "BitmapFileName", IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_LOADFROMFILE | LR_CREATEDIBECTION);
GetObject(hBitmap, sizeof(BITMAP), lpBitmap);

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I need to get access to the underlying byte array[] for processing.
How do I get the byte array[] from the BITMAP? (without going to a temp file).

I know I can get access to the buffer by directly reading it from the file (via Bitmap header).
But, clients will be passing a BITMAP.

How do I achieve this?

Thanks,
JohnB

sarabande

to get the byte array of the device independent bitmap you could call the GetDIBits function which takes a HBITMAP as input.

see the following sample code http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd183402(v=vs.85).aspx

Sara

jxbma

ASKER

Hey sarabande:

Thanks for the response.
This would work if I was actually dealing with a windows based app with:

        hdc = GetDC(NULL);
        hdcMem = CreateCompatibleDC(hdc);

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I actually have a console based C++ app, so I don't have hDC's at my disposal.

I know that when I have bitmap file, I can go directly against the file and retrieve the byte array.

In this interface, the client app will be passing me a HBMP, from which I can get to a LPBITMAP.

How do I get the byte array from here?

Thanks,
JohnB

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sarabande

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