PRB: Invalid Handle Message Using Static Version of CTL3D

The information in this article applies to:

• The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) included with:

      - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
  

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) CD provides a tool, CTL3D, that can be used with applications to give Windows controls a three-dimensional (3- D) look. The tool is provided as a dynamic-link library (DLL) (CTL3D.DLL) and as a static library (CTL3DS.LIB). When using the static library with an Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) application, the controls do not appear as 3-D and the following debug error messages appear when the Ctl3dRegister() function is called:

   err CTLTST 0117:0138: Invalid HANDLE: 0000
   err CTLTST 0117:0197: Invalid global handle: 0000

CAUSE

The problem occurs when the .RC file does not include CTL3D.H. The include file, CTL3D.H, is needed to associate a resource ID with the 3-D bitmaps. When using the static version of CTL3D, the .RC file includes 3DCHECK.BMP, which is a bitmap used for the 3-D effects. For example,

   CTL3D_3DCHECK             BITMAP  DISCARDABLE     "3DCHECK.BMP"

   /* Resource ID for 3dcheck.bmp (for .lib version of ctl3d) */
   #define CTL3D_3DCHECK 26567

RESOLUTION

The problem can be corrected by including CTL3D.H in the .RC file. To include CTL3D.H, open App Studio and choose Set Includes from the File menu. To the Read-Only Symbol Directives box, add the following text:

   #include <ctl3d.h>

MORE INFORMATION

Below are the steps necessary to link to the static version of CTL3D, CTL3DS.LIB:

1. Add CTL3DS to the list of input libraries. This can be done in Visual C++ by choosing Project from the Options menu, choosing Linker, highlighting the "Category:" Input, and adding ctl3ds to the list of libraries.

2. Start App Studio and choose Set Includes from the File menu. To the Read-Only Symbol Directives box add the following:

         #include <ctl3d.h>
   

3. Save the .RC file and reopen it so the IDs in CTL3D.H will be available in App Studio. This can be done from the File menu by choosing Save, choosing Close, choosing Open, and selecting the .RC file again.

4. From the Resource menu, choose Import and enter 3DCHECK.BMP. Once the new bitmap resource is opened, change the ID of the bitmap to CTL3D_3DCHECK (which is already available). This can be done by choosing Properties from the Resource menu and clicking the down arrow of the ID list box. Scroll through the list box and select CTL3D_3DCHECK for the ID. This will add an entry to the project's RC file:

      CTL3D_3DCHECK           BITMAP  MOVEABLE PRE   "3DCHECK.BMP"