Return Values
If the function retrieves a message other than WM_QUIT, the return value is nonzero.
If the function retrieves the WM_QUIT message, the return value is zero.
If there is an error, the return value is -1. For example, the function fails if hWnd is an invalid window handle or lpMsg is an invalid pointer. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.
Warning Because the return value can be nonzero, zero, or -1, avoid code like this:
while (GetMessage( lpMsg, hWnd, 0, 0)) ...
The possibility of a -1 return value means that such code can lead to fatal application errors. Instead, use code like this:
BOOL bRet;
while( (bRet = GetMessage( &msg, NULL, 0, 0 )) != 0)
{
if (bRet == -1)
{
// handle the error and possibly exit
}
else
{
TranslateMessage(&msg);
DispatchMessage(&msg);
}
}