The LocalUnlock function decrements the lock count associated with a memory object that was allocated with the LMEM_MOVEABLE flag. This function has no effect on memory objects allocated with the LMEM_FIXED flag.
This function is provided only for compatibility with 16-bit versions of Windows.
BOOL LocalUnlock(
HLOCAL hMem // handle to the local memory object
);
If the memory object is still locked after decrementing the lock count, the return value is nonzero.
If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError. If GetLastError returns NO_ERROR, the memory object is unlocked.
The internal data structures for each memory object include a lock count that is initially zero. For movable memory objects, the LocalLock function increments the count by one, and LocalUnlock decrements the count by one. For each call that a process makes to LocalLock for an object, it must eventually call LocalUnlock. Locked memory will not be moved or discarded unless the memory object is reallocated by using the LocalReAlloc function. The memory block of a locked memory object remains locked until its lock count is decremented to zero, at which time it can be moved or discarded.
If the memory object is already unlocked, LocalUnlock returns FALSE and GetLastError reports ERROR_NOT_LOCKED. Memory objects allocated with the LMEM_FIXED flag always have a lock count of zero and cause the ERROR_NOT_LOCKED error.
A process should not rely on the return value to determine the number of times it must subsequently call LocalUnlock for the memory block.
Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
Windows CE: Unsupported.
Header: Declared in winbase.h.
Import Library: Use kernel32.lib.
Memory Management Overview, Memory Management Functions, LocalAlloc, LocalFlags, LocalLock, LocalReAlloc