KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q117320: How to Programatically Terminate an MFC Application

Article: Q117320
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.00 1.50 1.51 1.52 | 1.00 2.00
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 26-JUL-2001

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

- The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), included with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Under certain conditions, you may want to terminate an MFC application
programatically. MFC does not provide a public function to gracefully exit an
application.

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

A method for dealing with this is to create a function in your application like
the following:

     void ExitApp()
     {
          // same as double-clicking on main window close box
          ASSERT(AfxGetApp()->m_pMainWnd != NULL);
          AfxGetApp()->m_pMainWnd->SendMessage(WM_CLOSE);
     }

As you can see, this is implemented as a global function, which can be called
from anywhere in your application. It simply sends a WM_CLOSE message to your
application's mainframe window. This initiates an orderly shutdown of the
application.

If you are using MFC, version 2.5 or later, you can take advantage of a new
global MFC function, "AfxGetMainWnd", to simplify the code:

     void ExitMFCApp()
     {
          // same as double-clicking on main window close box
          ASSERT(AfxGetMainWnd() != NULL);
          AfxGetMainWnd()->SendMessage(WM_CLOSE);
     }

NOTE: Always call CDocument::SetModifiedFlag() after changing your document data.
This will ensure that the framework prompts the user to save before shutdown. If
you need more extensive control over the shutdown procedure, you can override
CDocument::SaveModified().

Additional query words: kbinf 1.00 1.50 1.51 1.52 2.00 2.10 2.50 2.51 2.52 3.00 3.10 4.00

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbMFC
Version           : 1.00 1.50 1.51 1.52 | 1.00 2.00

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

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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.