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Win32 API Programming with Visual Basic, Fourth Edition
by Steven Roman	ISBN:1-56592-631-5
O'Reilly 1999 (534 pages)
The Win32 API, or Application Programming Interface, allows Visual Basic programmers far greater access to the inner workings of the Windows operating system without having to suffer through the steep learning curve associated with Visual C++ style Windows programming. The book is designed for users with an intermediate-level (or higher) knowledge of Visual Basic version 4 or later and a desire to stretch VB into the realm of Windows system programming. Users do not need to have any background in Visual C++, nor do they need to have any previous experience with the Win32 API. This book helps VB programmers eliminate the trial and error process that is usually associated with calling the Win32 API from Visual Basic.

Preface

I. Declaring API Functions in Visual Basic

Chapter 1. Introduction

What is the Win32 API?

The Obstacles to Win32 Programming under Visual Basic

Proceed with Circumspection

Cautions

Chapter 2. Preliminaries

Character Codes

Parameters and Arguments

Dynamic Link Libraries

Some C++ Syntax

Pointers

Chapter 3. API Declarations

The VB Declare Statement

The VC-to-VB Translation Game Plan

Passing Parameters to an External Function

CopyMemory - A VB Hacker's Dream

Dealing with API Errors

Chapter 4. Data Types

What is a Data Type?

Fundamental and Derived Data Types

Visual Basic Data Types

Basic VC++ Data Types

Translating Derived Data Types

Win32 Typedefs

An Example

Structures and User-Defined Types

Flags

Symbolic Constants

Chapter 5. Signed and Unsigned Data Types

Signed and Unsigned Representations

Why Two Different Representations? /dd>

Unsigned Representation

Signed Representation

Translating Between Signed and Unsigned Representations

Converting Between Word Lengths

Chapter 6. Strings

The BSTR

C-Style LPSTR and LPWSTR Strings

String Terminology

Tools for Exploring Strings

String Conversion by VB

Passing Strings to the Win32 API

Strings and Byte Arrays

Getting the Address of a Variable of User-Defined Type

Chapter 7. System Information Functions

The Computer's Name

Special Windows Paths

The Operating System Version

System Metrics

System Parameters

System Colors

Chapter 8. Exception Handling

Thwarting the General Protection Fault

Replacing the Default Exception Handler

The Replacement Exception Handler

A Complete Example

II. The Windows Operating System (Kernel32.DLL Programming)

Chapter 9. Windows Architecture

Processes and Threads

Windows Architecture

Differences Between Windows 9x and Windows NT

Chapter 10. Objects and Their Handles

Handles

Example: File Mapping

Chapter 11. Processes

Process Handles and IDs

Module Handles

Identifying a Process

Process Pseudohandles

Enumerating Processes

Is This Application Already Running?

Chapter 12. Threads

Thread Handles and Thread IDs

Thread Priority

Thread Synchronization

Waiting Can Be Tricky

Chapter 13. Windows Memory Architecture

Types of Memory

The Address Space of a Process

Example: Using GetSystemInfo

Allocating Virtual Memory

Example: Using GlobalMemoryStatus

Virtual Memory Management

Heaps of Memory

Example: Mapping Virtual Memory

Chapter 14. Portable Executable Files

Module Relocation

The PE File Format

Example: Getting PE File Information

III. Windows (USER32.DLL Programming)

Chapter 15. Windows: The Basics

Terminology

Window Styles

Owned Windows

Z Order

Enumerating Windows

Size and Position Functions

Chapter 16. Windows Messages

The Message Queues of a Thread

The Windows Messaging System

Posting and Sending Messages

Example: Sending Messages to a Listbox

Interprocess Marshalling

Copying Data Between Processes

The Local Input State

Chapter 17. Window Classes and the Window Creation Process

Window Classes

Predefined Window Classes

The Window Procedure of a Window Class

Creating a Window

Window Styles

Windows and VB Controls

Example: Spying on Windows

Chapter 18. Windows Subclassing

Subclassing a Window or Window Class

Example: Subclassing the VB Checkbox Class

Chapter 19. Windows Hooks

Global and Thread-Specific Hooks

Setting the Hook

Hook Procedures

Hook Types

Hook Chains

Example: A Local Hook

Example: A Global Hook

Chapter 20. DLL Injection and Foreign Process Access

Accessing a Foreign Process: The Hooked Thread Graph

Allocating Foreign Memory

Example: Foreign Control Extraction

Example: Fixing the VB6 Help System

IV. The Windows GDI (GDI32.DLL Programming)

Chapter 21. Bitmaps

Rectangles

Bitmaps

Bitmap Functions

Using Bitmaps in Menus

Chapter 22. Device Contexts I: Overview

How Windows Handles Window Painting

Device Contexts

Chapter 23. Device Contexts II: Types of Device Contexts

Information Device Contexts

Memory Device Contexts

Printer Device Contexts

Display Device Contexts

Coordinate Systems

Chapter 24. Device Contexts III: Coordinate Systems

GDI Coordinate Systems

Virtual Space

Device Space

Page Space

Virtual Space to Physical Space

Setting Up Logical Coordinates in Physical Space

Mapping Modes

World Space

Chapter 25. Fonts

Font Families

Font Technologies

Character Sets

Logical and Physical Fonts

Enumerating Fonts

V. Appendixes

A. The Clipboard

B. The Windows Shell

C. The Registry and Private Profiles