Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!secola!ramspott
From: ramspott@secola.Columbia.NCR.COM (John Ramspott)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Windows Hooks and Message Filters
Keywords: SetWindowsHook, message filter
Message-ID: <385@secola.Columbia.NCR.COM>
Date: 25 Jul 89 23:46:06 GMT
Organization: NCR SE-Columbia, West Columbia, SC
Lines: 43


 I am having trouble using the SetWindowsHook() routine with the
WH_MSGFILTER option. I am interested in trapping when the user hits the
help button on a dialog box, which is always control id 3 in my app.
What I am expecting to see is a WM_COMMAND message with a wParam of 3.

I never get any WM_COMMAND messages, yet I know that my dialog box is
getting the message. The only thing I ever get are button up, button
down, and paint messages, and that is for the push button control, and not
the dialog box. Why is my filter function unable to get the other messages
that go to my dialog box? I currently hacked a way to figure out if the
help button has been hit by using the button up message, but this is very
schlocky...

The other complaint I have is an inaccuracy in the documentation. It claims
that the nCode your filter function will get is one of three values --
MSGF_DIALOGBOX, MSGF_MENU, and MSGF_MESSAGEBOX, and ONLY one of these
three. Not true. You can also get MSGF_SCROLLBAR if you have a list box,
as well as some nCodes for resizing.

And I get a lot more than just dialog box stuff with nCode = MSGF_DIALOGBOX.
This seems to be a catch-all for Microsoft, which uses it for mouse
movements and button activity in any window, not just a dialog box.

Finally, I often get two copies of a message for modeless dialog boxes sent
to my filter function. Any idea why?? I am currently recording the times
of messages and ignoring ones I get with no time elapsed.

The guy at Microsoft didn't have any clues, but said he will make a request
of Microsoft Online, but he gets low priority!! I have seen few if any signs
of intelligent life from either Microsoft help line, documentation, or their
"KnowledgeBase". Has anyone gotten a real, accurate, and timely response from
the Online group, or is this just another sham to get $500?

Thanx.  ---- John E. Ramspott--

These ideas are only my own. My employer will not acknowledge or understand
them.
-- 
John E. Ramspott, NCR, SE-Columbia.  Usenet: ramspott@columbia.NCR.COM
     "Amiga's so fine, there's no telling where the money went..."
Disclaimer: These ideas don't represent my company. In fact, they aren't
mine either. I just found them laying on the sidewalk.