Common dialog boxes are dialog boxes that applications display by calling a single function rather than by creating a dialog box procedure and a resource file containing a dialog box template. Common dialog boxes can be used only in protected mode (standard or 386 enhanced mode).
In addition to simplifying the development of Windows applications, common dialog boxes assist users by providing a standard set of controls for performing certain operations (such as selecting colors). As Windows developers begin using common dialog boxes in their applications, users will find that once they master the use of common dialog boxes in one application, they can easily perform the same operations in other applications.
Following are the new functions for common dialog boxes:
| Function | Description |
| ChooseColor | Creates a Color dialog box. |
| ChooseFont | Creates a Font dialog box. |
| FindText | Creates a Find dialog box. |
| GetFileTitle | Retrieves a filename. |
| GetOpenFileName | Creates an Open dialog box. |
| GetSaveFileName | Creates a Save As dialog box. |
| PrintDlg | Creates a Print dialog box. |
| ReplaceText | Creates a Replace dialog box. |
The common dialog box feature depends on the COMMDLG.DLL dynamic-link library. This library and international versions of it are redistributable. Common dialog boxes can be used with Windows 3.0 but only in standard or 386 enhanced mode.