Windows Controls: The List BoxPicker

	Windows Controls: The List Box

Introduction

These are the steps to use a list box in a Microsoft Windows application. This exercise uses Microsoft Visual C++.

Practical Learning: Introducting the Date Time Picker

Start Microsoft Visual Studio or Visual C++
On the main menu, click File -> New Project...
In the left list, click Visual C++ Project.
In the right list, click Win32 Project
Set the Name to ListBoxControl
Click OK
In the first page of the wizard, click Next
In the second page, click Windows Application and click Empty Project
Click Finish

Practical Learning: Creating a Resource Header

On the main menu, click Project -> Add New Item...
In the right list, click Header File
Set the Name to Resource
Click Add
In the empty document, type: #define IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG 1012 and press Enter

Practical Learning: Creating a Resource File

On the main menu, click Project -> Add New Item...
In the right list, click Text File
Set the Name to Exercise.rc (make sure you include the extension)
Click Add
In the Solution Explorer, right-click Exercise.rc and click Open With...
In the Open With dialog box, click Source Code (Text) Editor
Click OK

In the empty document, type the following:

#include <afxres.h>
#include "Resource.h"

IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG DIALOG 260, 200, 110, 105
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
CAPTION "Family Affairs"
FONT 8, "MS Shell Dlg"
BEGIN
    DEFPUSHBUTTON   "OK", IDOK, 48, 84, 50, 14
END

Practical Learning: Creating the Source Code

On the main menu, click Project -> Add New Item...
In the right list, click C++ File (.cpp)
Set the Name to Exercise
Click Add

In the empty document, type the following:

#include <windows.h>
#include "Resource.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HWND hWnd;
HINSTANCE hInstGlobal;
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWnd, UINT Msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam);
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
INT WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
				   LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow)
{
	hInstGlobal = hInstance;

	DialogBox(hInstGlobal, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG),
	          hWnd, reinterpret_cast<DLGPROC>(DlgProc));

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
	switch(msg)
	{
	case WM_INITDIALOG:

		return TRUE;

	case WM_COMMAND:
		switch(wParam)
		{
		case IDOK:
			EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
			return TRUE;
		}
		break;

	case WM_CLOSE:
            PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
	}

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Practical Learning: Programmatically Creating the Control

Change the Exercise.cpp source file as follows:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
	switch(msg)
	{
	case WM_INITDIALOG:
		CreateWindowEx(0,
                	       L"LISTBOX",
                       	       TEXT("FamilyListing"),
                       	       WS_BORDER | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE,
                       	       10,10,140,120,
			       hWndDlg,
                       	       NULL,
                               hInstGlobal,
                               NULL);
		return TRUE;

	case WM_COMMAND:
		switch(wParam)
		{
		case IDOK:
			EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
			return TRUE;
		}
		break;

	case WM_CLOSE:
            PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
	}

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Practical Learning: Manually Creating a List Box

Access the Resource.h file

Add the following line at the end and press Enter:

#define IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB  1014

Access the Exercise.

#include <afxres.h>
#include "Resource.h"

IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG DIALOG 260, 200, 110, 105
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
CAPTION "Family Affairs"
FONT 8, "MS Shell Dlg"
BEGIN
    DEFPUSHBUTTON   "OK", IDOK, 48, 84, 50, 14
    LISTBOX         IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB, 10, 10, 90, 80
END

Access the Exercise.cpp

Delete the code in the WM_INITDIALOG event:

#include windows.h
#include "Resource.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HWND hWnd;
HINSTANCE hInstGlobal;
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWnd, UINT Msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam);
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
INT WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
				   LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow)
{
	hInstGlobal = hInstance;

	DialogBox(hInstGlobal, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG),
	          hWnd, reinterpret_cast(DlgProc));

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
	switch(msg)
	{
	case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
		return TRUE;

	case WM_COMMAND:
		switch(wParam)
		{
		case IDOK:
			EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
			return TRUE;
		}
		break;

	case WM_CLOSE:
            PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
	}

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Practical Learning: Adding Items to the List Box

Change the WN the Exercise.rc file and change it as follows (it also shows different ways to add an item):

#include <windows.h>
#include <Windowsx.h>
#include "Resource.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HWND hWnd;
HINSTANCE hInstGlobal;
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWnd, UINT Msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam);
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
INT WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
				   LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow)
{
	hInstGlobal = hInstance;

	DialogBox(hInstGlobal, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG),
	          hWnd, reinterpret_cast<DLGPROC>(DlgProc));

	return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    HWND lbxPrimaryFamily;
	
    lbxPrimaryFamily = GetDlgItem(hWndDlg, IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB);

    switch(msg)
    {
    case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
	ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Father");
	ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Mother");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)L"Daughter");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Son"));
	SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Bother"));
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Sister"));
	return TRUE;

    case WM_COMMAND:
	switch(wParam)
	{
	case IDOK:
	    EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
	    return TRUE;
	}
	break;

    case WM_CLOSE:
        PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
    }

    return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Practical Learning: Handling Events

Access the Exercise.

rc file

To prepare to handle events, change the file as follows:

#include <afxres.h>
#include "Resource.h"

IDD_PRIMARYFAMILY_DLG DIALOG 260, 200, 110, 105
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
CAPTION "Family Affairs"
FONT 8, "MS Shell Dlg"
BEGIN
    DEFPUSHBUTTON   "OK", IDOK, 48, 84, 50, 14
    LISTBOX         IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB, 10, 10, 90, 80, LBS_NOTIFY
END

Access the Exercise.cpp

To handle events, change the procedure as follows:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    HWND lbxPrimaryFamily;
	
    lbxPrimaryFamily = GetDlgItem(hWndDlg, IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB);

    switch(msg)
    {
    case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
	ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Father");
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Mother");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)L"Daughter");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Son"));
	SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
	 	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Bother"));
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Sister"));
	return TRUE;

    case WM_COMMAND:
	switch(LOWORD(wParam))
	{
	case IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB:
		{
		switch (HIWORD(wParam))
			
		return TRUE;

	case IDOK:
		EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
		return TRUE;
	}
	break;

    case WM_CLOSE:
        PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
    }

    return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Practical Learning: Double-Clicking an Item

When the user double-clicks an item, to get the index of the item that was double-clicked, type the following:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    HWND lbxPrimaryFamily;
	
    lbxPrimaryFamily = GetDlgItem(hWndDlg, IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB);

    switch(msg)
    {
    case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Father");
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Mother");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)L"Daughter");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Son"));
	SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
	 	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Bother"));
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Sister"));
	return TRUE;

    case WM_COMMAND:
	switch(LOWORD(wParam))
	{
	case IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB:
	{
	    switch (HIWORD(wParam))
	    {
		case LBN_DBLCLK:
		    int iSelectedIndex;
				
		    iSelectedIndex = ListBox_GetCurSel(lbxPrimaryFamily);
		    return TRUE;
	    }
	}
	return TRUE;

	case IDOK:
	    EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
	    return TRUE;
	}
        break;

    case WM_CLOSE:
        PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
    }

    return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

To get the text of the item that was double-clicked, change the code as follows:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    HWND lbxPrimaryFamily;
	
    lbxPrimaryFamily = GetDlgItem(hWndDlg, IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB);

    switch(msg)
    {
    case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Father");
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Mother");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)L"Daughter");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Son"));
	SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
	 	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Bother"));
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Sister"));
	return TRUE;

    case WM_COMMAND:
	switch(LOWORD(wParam))
	{
	case IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB:
	{
	    switch (HIWORD(wParam))
	    {
	    case LBN_DBLCLK:
	        int iSelectedIndex;
		TCHAR strSelectedItem[32];
				
		iSelectedIndex = ListBox_GetCurSel(lbxPrimaryFamily);
                ListBox_GetText(lbxPrimaryFamily, iSelectedIndex, (LPCTSTR)strSelectedItem);

		MessageBox(NULL, strSelectedItem, L"Exercise", 0);
		return TRUE;
	    }
	}
	return TRUE;

	case IDOK:
	    EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
	    return TRUE;
	}
        break;

    case WM_CLOSE:
        PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
    }

    return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Practical Learning: Deleting an Item

When the user double-clicks an item, to delete that item, type the following:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRESULT CALLBACK DlgProc(HWND hWndDlg, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    HWND lbxPrimaryFamily;
	
    lbxPrimaryFamily = GetDlgItem(hWndDlg, IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB);

    switch(msg)
    {
    case WM_INITDIALOG:
		
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Father");
        ListBox_AddString(lbxPrimaryFamily, L"Mother");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)L"Daughter");
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Son"));
	SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
	 	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Bother"));
        SendMessage(lbxPrimaryFamily, LB_ADDSTRING, 0,
         	   (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)TEXT("Sister"));
	return TRUE;

    case WM_COMMAND:
	switch(LOWORD(wParam))
	{
	case IDC_PRIMARYFAMILY_LB:
	{
	    switch (HIWORD(wParam))
	    {
	    case LBN_DBLCLK:
		// Getting the index of the item that was double-clicked
		int iSelectedIndex;
				
		iSelectedIndex = ListBox_GetCurSel(lbxPrimaryFamily);

		// Identifying the string that was double-clicked
		/*
		TCHAR strSelectedItem[32];
		ListBox_GetText(lbxPrimaryFamily,
			        iSelectedIndex,
			        (LPCTSTR)strSelectedItem);

		MessageBox(NULL, strSelectedItem, L"Exercise", 0);*/

		// Deleting the item that was double-clicked
		ListBox_DeleteString(lbxPrimaryFamily, iSelectedIndex);

		return TRUE;
	    }
	}
	return TRUE;

	case IDOK:
	    EndDialog(hWndDlg, 0);
	    return TRUE;
	}
        break;

    case WM_CLOSE:
        PostQuitMessage(WM_QUIT);
        break;
    }

    return FALSE;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Execute the application to see the result
Double-click an item in the list box
Close the dialog box and return to your programming environment

Resource Header:

Resource File:

Source Code: