KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q83364: FlshEdit.exe Demonstrates Flashing an Edit Control

Article: Q83364
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): 3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbfile kbsample kb16bitonly kbGrpDSUser kbOSWin310 kbWndw kbWndwMsg kbWndwProp kbOSWin3
Last Modified: 23-JUL-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

If an application window or dialog box has a number of edit controls, the user
can lose track of the control that has the input focus. FlshEdit.exe is a sample
in the Microsoft Download Center that demonstrates how to make an edit control
flash to indicate that the control has the input focus. The technique used by
FLSHEDIT is similar to calling the FlashWindow function. FlashWindow flashes the
caption bar on a window to gain the user's attention.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download
Center:

  FlshEdit.exe

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of
posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure
servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The FLSHEDIT sample contains a dialog box with four edit controls. The
application uses one timer, which is used to flash whichever edit control has
the focus. The application sets the timer each time an edit control receives the
input focus (an EN_SETFOCUS message). The timer is destroyed when an edit
control loses the input focus (an EN_KILLFOCUS message) or when the context of
the edit control changes (an EN_CHANGE message).

When the specified time elapses and the application receives a WM_TIMER message,
the application invalidates the contents of the edit control and specifies the
new text and background colors. Then Windows redraws the control using the new
colors.

Therefore, a control stops flashing when either of the following events take
place:

- The user takes the input focus away from the control.

- The user changes the text contents of the control.

The FLSHEDIT application provides an option to stop the flashing and to change
the color of the flashing.

In addition to flashing, the FLSHEDIT sample changes the text in an edit control
to indicate that the control has the input focus. However, if the user changes
the contents of an edit control, the changed text remains even after the user
moves the input focus to another control. If the user changes the text to an
empty string, the edit control regains its default contents.

Windows 3.0 does not properly change the background color of a single-line edit
control.


FLSHEDIT incorporates the first method provided by this Knowledge Base article.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbfile kbsample kb16bitonly kbGrpDSUser kbOSWin310 kbWndw kbWndwMsg kbWndwProp kbOSWin300 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : :3.0,3.1

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.