How to Use GetWindowText in MFC

When working with edit controls in MFC applications, you may need to retrieve the text entered by the user. One way to do this is by using the GetWindowText() method, which returns a string containing the current contents of the specified window or control. In this article, we will explore how to use GetWindowText() in an MFC application.

Step 1: Create a CEdit Control Variable

To begin with, you need to create a variable that represents the edit control for which you want to retrieve the text. You can do this by using the 'Add Variable List' feature in your MFC application. This will allow you to declare a variable of type CEdit and associate it with the edit control on your dialog box or form.

Step 2: Use GetDlgItemText() to Hold the Text

Once you have created the CEdit control variable, you can use the GetDlgItemText() method to retrieve the text entered by the user. This method takes three parameters: the handle of the parent window, the ID of the edit control, and a buffer to hold the retrieved text.

Step 3: Use GetWindowText() to Retrieve the Text

Alternatively, you can use the GetWindowText() method to retrieve the text from an edit control. This method takes two parameters: the handle of the edit control and a buffer to hold the retrieved text. The returned string includes any newline characters that may have been entered by the user.

Example Code:

```cpp

CEdit m_EditCtrl;

CString filePath1;

filePath1 = m_EditCtrl.GetWindowText();

```

In this example, GetWindowText() is used to retrieve the text from the edit control and store it in a CString variable named filePath1.

Common Issues

If you are having trouble using GetWindowText(), you may want to check if your application is compiling with the UNICODE libraries. This can cause problems when explicitly calling ASCII functions like _cprintf(). You should ensure that you are either using the correct library or adjusting your code accordingly.

Tips and Tricks

One common issue users face when working with edit controls in MFC is the use of DDX/DDV functions. These functions can simplify the process of retrieving data from edit controls, but they may not be suitable for all applications. Instead, you can use control variables to avoid these functions altogether.

In conclusion, GetWindowText() is a powerful method that allows you to retrieve text from an edit control in MFC. By following the steps outlined above and using this method correctly, you should be able to easily retrieve the text entered by users in your application. Remember to check for common issues and consider alternative approaches when working with DDX/DDV functions.

EnumWindows

In addition to GetWindowText(), another useful function is EnumWindows(). This function continues until the last top-level window is enumerated or the callback function returns FALSE. It enumerates all top-level windows on the screen by passing the handle to each window, in turn, to an application-defined callback function.

Example Code:

```cpp

ENUMCHILDPROC MyEnumProc(HWND hwnd, LPARAM lParam)

{

// Process the child window

}

int EnumerateWindows()

{

EnumWindows(EnumWindowProc, NULL);

return 0;

}

```

In this example, EnumWindows() is used to enumerate all top-level windows on the screen and process each one using a callback function named MyEnumProc().

How to use getwindowtext in mfc