This section explains how to add window, common, and Windows CE–specific controls to windows and dialog boxes. It also explains how to handle control notification messages. The window controls discussed here include buttons, combo boxes, edit controls, list boxes, scroll bars, and static controls.
A control is a child window that an application uses in conjunction with another window to perform I/O tasks. Windows CE defines two basic kinds of controls: window controls and common controls. Window controls send WM_COMMAND messages. Common controls generally send WM_NOTIFY messages, though a few send WM_COMMAND messages.
Windows CE also supports two Windows CE–specific controls: an HTML viewer control and a Rich Ink control. These controls are neither window controls nor common controls. The HTML viewer control provides a simple interface for rendering HTML text, displaying embedded images, and notifying the application of user events. The Rich Ink control enables a user to write and draw on a touch-sensitive screen with a pointing device.
Controls are most often placed within dialog boxes, but they can also be placed directly on the surface of a normal window client area. Each control has attributes that affect its appearance and behavior. When you create a control, you can apply one or more styles to the control. For a complete listing of supported Windows CE control styles, see Window and Control Styles.