Chapter 3: Creating an Application Interface


OVERVIEW

Your application's Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the first impression that you make on your user. The quality of the interface determines how easy the application is to use. It also might help determine how popular it becomes.

In this chapter, you learn how to develop a great-looking interface for the Visual C++ applications you write. In the process, you learn how to create programs that have the same look and feel of professional Windows applications that users are familiar with using every day. You gain an understanding of how to create a Status Strip, give your users help with ToolTips, and display an icon in the System Tray that represents your application and allows users to quickly gain access to it.

This chapter teaches you how to utilize two built-in dialog boxes that enhance the display of information and make it simple to obtain user input. You also learn valuable techniques in the process of programming this chapter's game, the Speed Typing game.

In this chapter, you learn the following:

  • How to display text in an application's Status Strip

  • How to give controls useful information via ToolTips

  • How to associate a custom icon with your application

  • How to use the System Tray to display your application's icon

  • How to use MessageBox::Show to show messages

  • How to control the order in which controls are accessed by tabbing

  • How to specify the starting location of your application on the Windows desktop

  • How to determine the style of border that frames your application




Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition Programming for the Absolute Beginner 2006
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition Programming for the Absolute Beginner 2006
ISBN: 735615381
EAN: N/A
Year: 2005
Pages: 131

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