Q141752: Limiting 32-Bit MFC SDI/MDI Applications to a Single Instance
Article: Q141752
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbcode kbfile kbSample kbMFC KbUIDesign kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbFAQ kbGrpDSMFCATL kbA
Last Modified: 02-MAY-2002
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), version 1.0
- Microsoft Visual C++.NET (2002)
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SUMMARY
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The ONET32 sample application demonstrates how to limit a Microsoft Foundation
Class Library (MFC) application to a single instance. This is the 32-bit version
of this sample.
MORE INFORMATION
================
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download
Center:
Onet32.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. After it is posted, the file is housed on
secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
Onet32.exe is a self-extracting file and should be executed as follows:
ONET32 -d
The -d option maintains the subdirectory structure.
There are several ways to limit a Windows-based application to a single instance.
This sample program uses a technique in which a custom window class is
registered for the application's main frame window. In subsequent instances,
CWinApp::InitInstance searches for this window class and then activates the
prior instance.
This technique was chosen because it is fairly easy to implement.
The following code fragments show the essential requirements of this technique:
1. Override CWinApp::InitInstance to check for, and activate, any previous
instance of the application. Also, register your own window class as
follows:
// Add a static BOOL that indicates whether the class was
// registered so that you can unregister it in ExitInstance
static BOOL bClassRegistered = FALSE;
BOOL COneT32App::InitInstance()
{
// If a previous instance of the application is already running,
// then activate it and return FALSE from InitInstance to
// end the execution of this instance.
if(!FirstInstance())
return FALSE;
// Register your unique class name that you wish to use
WNDCLASS wndcls;
memset(&wndcls, 0, sizeof(WNDCLASS)); // start with NULL
// defaults
wndcls.style = CS_DBLCLKS | CS_HREDRAW | CS_VREDRAW;
wndcls.lpfnWndProc = ::DefWindowProc;
wndcls.hInstance = AfxGetInstanceHandle();
wndcls.hIcon = LoadIcon(IDR_MAINFRAME); // or load a different
// icon
wndcls.hCursor = LoadCursor( IDC_ARROW );
wndcls.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH) (COLOR_WINDOW + 1);
wndcls.lpszMenuName = NULL;
// Specify your own class name for using FindWindow later
wndcls.lpszClassName = _T("MyNewClass");
// Register the new class and exit if it fails
if(!AfxRegisterClass(&wndcls))
{
TRACE("Class Registration Failed\n");
return FALSE;
}
bClassRegistered = TRUE;
// Rest of InitInstance goes here
...
...
...
}
2. Add a member function to your CWinApp-derived class that actually does the
work of checking for, and activating of, a previous instance:
BOOL COneT32App::FirstInstance()
{
CWnd *pWndPrev, *pWndChild;
// Determine if another window with your class name exists...
if (pWndPrev = CWnd::FindWindow(_T("MyNewClass"),NULL))
{
// If so, does it have any popups?
pWndChild = pWndPrev->GetLastActivePopup();
// If iconic, restore the main window
if (pWndPrev->IsIconic())
pWndPrev->ShowWindow(SW_RESTORE);
// Bring the main window or its popup to
// the foreground
pWndChild->SetForegroundWindow();
// and you are done activating the previous one.
return FALSE;
}
// First instance. Proceed as normal.
else
return TRUE;
}
3. Override CWinApp::ExitInstance to unregister the class if it was registered
as follows:
int COneT32App::ExitInstance()
{
if(bClassRegistered)
::UnregisterClass(_T("MyNewClass"),AfxGetInstanceHandle());
return CWinApp::ExitInstance();
}
4. Override CFrameWnd::PreCreateWindow to use your window class instead of the
one registered automatically by MFC as follows:
BOOL CMainFrame::PreCreateWindow(CREATESTRUCT& cs)
{
// Use the specific class name you established earlier.
cs.lpszClass = _T("MyNewClass");
// Change the following line to call.
// CFrameWnd::PreCreateWindow(cs) if this is an SDI application.
return CMDIFrameWnd::PreCreateWindow(cs);
}
NOTE: This information does not apply to WinCE-based applications. For additional
information about limiting 32-bit applications to a single instance on a Windows
CE environment, please click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q238100 HOWTO: Limiting 32-bit Applications to a Single Instance in WinCE
REFERENCES
==========
MFC Technical Note #1 discusses window class registration.
For additional information about how to register MFC window classes, please click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q140596 INFO: MFC 4.0 No Longer Pre-Registers Window Classes
For additional information, which is more recent, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q243953 HOWTO: Limit 32-bit Applications to One Instance Using C++
Additional query words: ONETIME one time Chapter 12 Advanced Windows HINSTANCE hPrevInstance single instance
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Keywords : kbcode kbfile kbSample kbMFC KbUIDesign kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbFAQ kbGrpDSMFCATL kbArchitecture
Technology : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper _IKkbbogus kbMFC kbVCNET
Version : :1.0
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