Unicode in the Windows API

Unicode in the Windows API

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd374089(v=vs.85).aspx

Windows API functions that manipulate characters are generally implemented in one of three formats:

• A generic version that can be compiled for either Windows code pages or Unicode
• A Windows code page version with the letter "A" used to indicate "ANSI"
• A Unicode version with the letter "W" used to indicate "wide"

Some newer functions support only Unicode versions. For more information, seeConventions for Function Prototypes.

The following topics discuss Unicode data types and how they are used in functions and messages; the use of resources, file names, and command line arguments; and methods of translating between different types of strings.

• Automatic Message Translation
• Character Sets Used in File Names
• Command Line Arguments
• Conventions for Function Prototypes
• Standard C Functions
• String Function Differences
• Translation Between String Types
• Windows Data Types for Strings

Related topics

About Unicode and Character Sets