KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q138672: PRB: .Msk File Not Recognized in Windows 95

Article: Q138672
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 10-FEB-2000

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

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Bitmaps appear transparent when placed on a control of a form, even after
following the directions on page 304 of the Developer's Guide to create a mask
file.

CAUSE
=====

The default extension for a bitmap is .bmp. When you save a bitmap in Paintbrush
in Windows 95, the resulting file automatically has the .bmp extension.
Therefore, if you save a file as either New or New.bmp will save the bitmap to a
file named New.bmp. But if you attempt to save the file as New.msk, Windows 95
creates a file named New.Msk.bmp. Note that the full file name might not be
visible when examining files in Windows 95.

RESOLUTION
==========

Rename the file through the Windows Explorer or by using another method.

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

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

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

Follow the directions on page 304 of the Developer's Guide under "Using Picture
Masks" to create a mask for a bitmap. A sample bitmap that needs a mask file is
New.bmp in the Samples\Controls\Events subdirectory. Before trying to reproduce
this behavior, make sure the file New.msk does not already exist in that
directory.

1. Open the New.bmp file in Paint.

2. Blacken the inside of the picture.

3. Save the image as New.msk.

4. Try to use the bitmap on a command button on a Visual FoxPro form. Note that
  the bitmap is still transparent.

NOTE: If the user has set Windows 95 to "Hide MS-DOS file extensions for file
types that are registered," the file New.msk.bmp will appear as New.msk because
Windows 95 recognizes it as a bitmap. Make sure that the user is not hiding the
file extensions by changing the options under the View menu option on the
Windows Explorer.

Additional query words: VFoxWin

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0

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

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.