DIALOG styles

%DS_3DLOOK

Give the dialog box a non-bold font, and draw three-dimensional borders around controls in the dialog box. The %DS_3DLOOK style is not required by applications marked with #OPTION VERSION4 or #OPTION VERSION5; as Windows automatically applies the 3D appearance. DDT dialogs are always created with this style. (default)

%DS_ABSALIGN

Indicate that the coordinates of the dialog box are screen coordinates; otherwise, Windows assumes they are client coordinates.

%DS_CENTER

Center the dialog box in the working area (the area not obscured by the task bar and system tray). This is the default if x& and y& are not specified.

%DS_CENTERMOUSE

Center the mouse cursor in the dialog box when the dialog is initially created.

%DS_CONTEXTHELP

Include a question mark in the title bar of the dialog box. When the user clicks the question mark, the cursor changes to a question mark with a pointer. If the user then clicks a control in the dialog box, the dialog callback receives a %WM_HELP message. This style cannot be used with the %WS_MAXIMIZEBOX and %WS_MINIMIZEBOX styles. Also see %WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP.

%DS_CONTROL

Create a dialog that works as a child control of another dialog, smoothing the keyboard focus interface across the two dialogs when the TAB key or control accelerators are used. Typically used for dialogs that form the "pages" for tab controls and property-sheets.

%DS_MODALFRAME

Create a dialog box with a modal dialog-box frame that can be combined with a title bar and System menu by specifying the %WS_CAPTION and %WS_SYSMENU styles. (default)

%DS_NOFAILCREATE

The dialog is created regardless of any errors that may occur during the creation phase. DDT dialogs are always created with this style. (default)

%DS_SETFONT

The font to be used by a DDT dialog and its controls can be predetermined with the DIALOG FONT statement. If the DIALOG FONT statement is not used, the default font (MS Sans Serif, 8 point) is used. The size of the dialog font proportionately affects the conversion of dialog units values into pixels, so an increase in default font size will automatically create a larger dialog, even through the dialog dimensions have remained constant. As child controls are added to a %DS_SETFONT dialog, they will be sent a %WM_SETFONT message to ensure they also make use of the specified dialog font. DDT dialogs are always created with this style. (default)

%DS_SETFOREGROUND

Bring the dialog box to the foreground. Internally, Windows calls the SetForegroundWindow API function for the dialog box.

%DS_SYSMODAL

Create a system-modal dialog box. This style causes the dialog box to have the %WS_EX_TOPMOST style, but otherwise has no effect on the dialog box or the behavior of other applications and windows when the dialog box is displayed.

%WS_BORDER

Create a dialog that has a thin-line (non-resizing) border.

%WS_CAPTION

Create a dialog that has a title bar. Includes the %WS_BORDER and %WS_DLGFRAME styles. When this style is used, the width& and height& parameters specify the size of the client area of the dialog, otherwise they specify the outer dimensions of the dialog. (default)

%WS_CHILD

Create a child dialog. Cannot be used with the %WS_POPUP style. Typically used with %DS_CONTROL for tab control and property sheet "pages".

%WS_CLIPCHILDREN

Exclude the area occupied by child controls when drawing occurs on the dialog background. FRAME and LINE controls on a dialog with this style usually use the extended style %WS_EX_TRANSPARENT so the background of those controls is drawn by the dialog before the controls are drawn. %WS_CLIPCHILDREN is commonly used to reduce redraw flicker when a %WS_THICKFRAME style dialog is being resized.

%WS_CLIPSIBLINGS

Child controls are clipped (not overdrawn) by one another when the dialog window is repainted. (default)

%WS_DISABLED

%WS_DISABLED Create a dialog that is initially disabled. A disabled dialog cannot receive input from the user.

%WS_DLGFRAME 

Create a window that has a border of the style typically used with dialog boxes. (default)

%WS_HSCROLL

Dialog contains a horizontal scroll bar.

%WS_MAXIMIZEBOX

Create a dialog that has a Maximize button. Use with the %WS_SYSMENU style.

%WS_MINIMIZEBOX 

Create a dialog that has a Minimize button. Use with the %WS_SYSMENU style.

%WS_OVERLAPPED

Create an overlapped window. An overlapped window has a title bar (caption) and a border. Synonym of the obsolete style %WS_TILED.

%WS_POPUP

Create a popup dialog. When used by itself, a flat dialog is created with no caption or borders. Combine with %DS_MODALFRAME to create a 3D border. A popup dialog can overlap another window or dialog. (default)

%WS_SYSMENU

Create a dialog that has a System-menu box in its title bar. Must be used with the %WS_CAPTION style.

%WS_THICKFRAME

Create a dialog that has a sizing border. That is, the dialog will be resizable.

%WS_VSCROLL

Dialog contains a vertical scroll bar. Also see %WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR.

%WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES

The dialog accepts Drag+Drop files. The dialog Callback Function receives a %WM_DROPFILES message when files have been dropped onto the dialog.

%WS_EX_APPWINDOW

Force a top-level dialog onto the application taskbar when the window is minimized.

%WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE

Dialog has a border with a sunken edge.

%WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP

Include a question mark in the title bar of the dialog. When the user clicks the question mark, the cursor changes to a question mark with a pointer. If the user then clicks a child window, the child receives a %WM_HELP message. Also see %DS_CONTEXTHELP.

%WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT 

The user may navigate among the child dialogs of the window by using the TAB key. See %DS_CONTROL.

%WS_EX_LEFT

Dialog has generic "left-aligned" properties. (default)

%WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR

 If present, the vertical scroll bar is positioned to the left of the client area. Also see %WS_VSCROLL.

%WS_EX_LTRREADING

Display the caption text using Left to Right reading-order properties. (default)

%WS_EX_NOPARENTNOTIFY

Suppress %WM_PARENTNOTIFY messages when dialog is created or destroyed.

%WS_EX_RIGHT

Dialog has generic "right-aligned" properties that depend on the window class. This style has an effect only if the shell language is Hebrew, Arabic, or another language that supports reading order alignment. Otherwise, the style is ignored.

%WS_EX_RIGHTSCROLLBAR

If present, the vertical scroll bar is positioned to the right of the client area. See %WS_VSCROLL. (default)

%WS_EX_RTLREADING

If the shell language is Hebrew, Arabic, or another language that supports reading order alignment, the caption text is displayed using Right to Left reading-order properties. For other languages, the style is ignored.

%WS_EX_STATICEDGE

Dialog has a 3D border. Primarily used for dialogs that do not require user-input.

%WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW

Create a tool window (a window intended to be used as a floating toolbar). A tool window has a shorter than normal caption area and the dialog caption is drawn using a smaller font. A tool window does not appear in the task bar, or in the window that appears when the user presses ALT+TAB. The hybrid versions of Windows (95/98/ME) may require this extended style to be added after creation, using the SetWindowLong API function.

%WS_EX_TOPMOST

Place dialog above all non-topmost windows and keep it above them, even while the dialog is deactivated.

%WS_EX_TRANSPARENT 

Controls/windows beneath the dialog are drawn before the dialog is drawn. The dialog is deemed transparent because elements behind the dialog have already been painted - the dialog itself is not drawn differently. True transparency is achieved by using Regions - see MSDN and/or the Platform SDK documentation for more information.

%WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE

Dialog has a border with a raised edge.