VC++ Window Styles

Window Styles

The following styles can be specified wherever a window style is required. After the control has been created, these styles cannot be modified, except as noted.

Constants

WS_BORDER 

Creates a window that has a thin-line border.

WS_CAPTION 

Creates a window that has a title bar (includes the WS_BORDER style).

WS_CHILD 

Creates a child window. A window with this style cannot have a menu bar. This style cannot be used with the WS_POPUP style.

WS_CHILDWINDOW 

Same as the WS_CHILD style.

WS_CLIPCHILDREN 

Excludes the area occupied by child windows when drawing occurs within the parent window. This style is used when creating the parent window.

WS_CLIPSIBLINGS 

Clips child windows relative to each other; that is, when a particular child window receives a WM_PAINT message, the WS_CLIPSIBLINGS style clips all other overlapping child windows out of the region of the child window to be updated. If WS_CLIPSIBLINGS is not specified and child windows overlap, it is possible, when drawing within the client area of a child window, to draw within the client area of a neighboring child window.

WS_DISABLED 

Creates a window that is initially disabled. A disabled window cannot receive input from the user. To change this after a window has been created, use EnableWindow.

WS_DLGFRAME 

Creates a window that has a border of a style typically used with dialog boxes. A window with this style cannot have a title bar.

WS_GROUP 

Specifies the first control of a group of controls. The group consists of this first control and all controls defined after it, up to the next control with the WS_GROUP style. The first control in each group usually has the WS_TABSTOP style so that the user can move from group to group. The user can subsequently change the keyboard focus from one control in the group to the next control in the group by using the direction keys.

You can turn this style on and off to change dialog box navigation. To change this style after a window has been created, use SetWindowLong.

WS_HSCROLL 

Creates a window that has a horizontal scroll bar.

WS_ICONIC 

Creates a window that is initially minimized. Same as the WS_MINIMIZE style.

WS_MAXIMIZE 

Creates a window that is initially maximized.

WS_MAXIMIZEBOX 

Creates a window that has a maximize button. Cannot be combined with the WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP style. The WS_SYSMENU style must also be specified.

WS_MINIMIZE 

Creates a window that is initially minimized. Same as the WS_ICONIC style.

WS_MINIMIZEBOX 

Creates a window that has a minimize button. Cannot be combined with the WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP style. The WS_SYSMENU style must also be specified.

WS_OVERLAPPED 

Creates an overlapped window. An overlapped window has a title bar and a border. Same as the WS_TILED style.

WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW 

Creates an overlapped window with the WS_OVERLAPPED, WS_CAPTION, WS_SYSMENU, WS_THICKFRAME, WS_MINIMIZEBOX, and WS_MAXIMIZEBOX styles. Same as the WS_TILEDWINDOW style.

WS_POPUP 

Creates a pop-up window. This style cannot be used with the WS_CHILD style.

WS_POPUPWINDOW 

Creates a pop-up window with WS_BORDER, WS_POPUP, and WS_SYSMENU styles. The WS_CAPTION and WS_POPUPWINDOW styles must be combined to make the window menu visible.

WS_SIZEBOX 

Creates a window that has a sizing border. Same as the WS_THICKFRAME style.

WS_SYSMENU 

Creates a window that has a window menu on its title bar. The WS_CAPTION style must also be specified.

WS_TABSTOP 

Specifies a control that can receive the keyboard focus when the user presses the TAB key. Pressing the TAB key changes the keyboard focus to the next control with the WS_TABSTOP style.

You can turn this style on and off to change dialog box navigation. To change this style after a window has been created, use SetWindowLong. For user-created windows and modeless dialogs to work with tab stops, alter the message loop to call the IsDialogMessage function.

WS_THICKFRAME 

Creates a window that has a sizing border. Same as the WS_SIZEBOX style.

WS_TILED 

Creates an overlapped window. An overlapped window has a title bar and a border. Same as the WS_OVERLAPPED style.

WS_TILEDWINDOW 

Creates an overlapped window with the WS_OVERLAPPED, WS_CAPTION, WS_SYSMENU, WS_THICKFRAME, WS_MINIMIZEBOX, and WS_MAXIMIZEBOX styles. Same as the WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW style.

WS_VISIBLE 

Creates a window that is initially visible.

This style can be turned on and off by using ShowWindow or SetWindowPos.

WS_VSCROLL 

Creates a window that has a vertical scroll bar.