WM_CTLCOLOREDIT

An edit control that is not read-only or disabled sends the WM_CTLCOLOREDIT message to its parent window when the control is about to be drawn. By responding to this message, the parent window can use the specified device context handle to set the text and background colors of the edit control.

WM_CTLCOLOREDIT 
hdcEdit = (HDC) wParam;   // handle to display context 
hwndEdit = (HWND) lParam; // handle to static control

Parameters

hdcEdit: Value of wParam. Handle to the device context for the edit control window.
hwndEdit: Value of lParam. Handle to the edit control.

Return Values

If an application processes this message, it must return the handle of a brush. The system uses the brush to paint the background of the edit control.

Default Action

The DefWindowProc function selects the default system colors for the edit control.

Remarks

Read-only or disabled edit controls do not send the WM_CTLCOLOREDIT message; instead, they send the WM_CTLCOLORSTATIC message. However, for compatibility purposes, the system sends the WM_CTLCOLOREDIT message for read-only and disabled edit controls if the application was designed for Windows 3.1 or earlier.

The system does not automatically destroy the returned brush. It is the application's responsibility to destroy the brush when it is no longer needed.

The WM_CTLCOLOREDIT message is never sent between threads, it is only sent within the same thread.

If a dialog box procedure handles this message, it should cast the desired return value to a BOOL and return the value directly. If the dialog box procedure returns FALSE, then default message handling is performed. The DWL_MSGRESULT value set by the SetWindowLong function is ignored.

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