How to Send an HBITMAP to Windows API Function Calls from VB

- Standard and Professional Editions of Microsoft Visual Basic for

  Windows, versions 2.0 and 3.0

SUMMARY

Several Windows API functions require the HBITMAP data type. Visual Basic for Windows does not have a HBITMAP data type. This article explains how to send the equivalent Visual Basic for Windows HBITMAP handle of a picture control to a Windows API function call.

MORE INFORMATION

This information is also included with the Microsoft Knowledge Base Help file provided with the Professional Edition of Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows. The HBITMAP data type represents a 16-bit index to GDIs physical drawing object. Several Windows API routines need the HBITMAP data type as an argument. Sending the [picture-control].Picture as an argument is the equivalent in Visual Basic for Windows.

The code sample below demonstrates how to send HBITMAP to the Windows API function ModifyMenu:

' Enter the following Declare statement as one, single line:
Declare Function SetMenuItemBitMaps% Lib "user" (ByVal hMenu%, ByVal nPos%,
   ByVal wFlag%, ByVal BitmapUnChecked%, ByVal hBitmapChecked%)

The following code segment will associate the specified bitmap Picture1.Picture in place of the default check mark:

X% = SetMenuItemBitMap(hMenu%, menuID%,0,0, Picture1.Picture)