INFO: Using SetParent() to Change a Window Parent

ID: Q89563

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows versions 3.11, 95
Microsoft Windows NT 3.51

SUMMARY

SetParent() can be used to change the parent window of a pop-up, overlapped, or child window. However, pop-up and overlapped windows were not designed to have a parent and they may function incorrectly if they are given a parent using SetParent. For example, messages like "WM_ACTIVATEAPP" that are sent only to top-level windows, will not be sent to a pop-up or overlapped window that has been given a parent. Child windows can be safely re-parented.

The process that created the parent window can be the same as, or different than the process that created the window that is being re-parented.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kb16bitonly kbSDKPlatform kbGrpUser kbWndw kbWndwProp kbUser
Version : WINDOWS:3.11,95; winnt:3.51
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbinfo