Cannot implement meter in windows API

Question

I am using the windows API (in C++) to create a windows application.

Now, I have a progress bar which I want to show like a meter. A meter is blue and has no animation. I cannot figure out how to implement this, and if I have to, I will just settle for the usual green progress bar.

Please help.

EDIT: At least, is it possible to disable the animation (highlight the slides across the filled section of the bar)?

EDIT2:

Here is the C++ solution if anyone else is having this problem:

PAINTSTRUCT ps;
HDC hDC = BeginPaint(hwnd,&ps);
RECT r;
HTHEME theme = OpenThemeData(hwnd,L"PROGRESS");
SetRect(&r,10,10,100,25);
DrawThemeBackground(theme,hDC,11,2,&r,NULL);
SetRect(&r,10,10,50,25);
DrawThemeBackground(theme,hDC,5,4,&r,NULL);
CloseThemeData(theme);
EndPaint(hwnd,&ps);

You are leaking the handle, use CloseThemeData(). – Hans Passant Sep 05 '10 at 03:00 — Hans Passant, Sep 05 '10 at 03:00

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 09:57

1

You can draw this style of progress bar with DrawThemeBackground(). You'll find the theme name, part and state numbers in my answer in this thread.

edited May 23 '17 at 09:57

Community

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answered Sep 04 '10 at 17:01

Hans Passant

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The return value of OpenThemeData(). The class name is "PROGRESS". – Hans Passant Sep 05 '10 at 00:14

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 04 '10 at 02:34

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The built in control cannot do this... however, it's not like ProgressBar is a complicated control. If you want nothing but a blue rectangle, use DrawRect and draw a blue rectangle.

answered Sep 04 '10 at 02:34

Billy ONeal

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it talks about meters in the msdn user expirience guide, but says nothing about its implementation. – Alexander Rafferty Sep 04 '10 at 02:37
@Alexander: I don't understand. If all you want is a rectangle, why do you need to make it more complicated. Am I missing something here? – Billy ONeal Sep 04 '10 at 03:09
it should look like a proper windows progress bar, but blue (and no animated). I'm fine using the green one, but it would be nice if someone knew how to get it like a meter (e.g. available disk space on my computer) – Alexander Rafferty Sep 04 '10 at 04:56
The progress bar's appearance depends on the particular operating system and theme. If you want it to look different, you will have to use a custom control. – Luke Sep 04 '10 at 13:30

Cannot implement meter in windows API

2 Answers2