Another Pelican Geek Question
 

It occurs to me that there have been a number of computer-related questions on OT lately. We should probably have a "Tech Support" subsection on OT. ;)

But regardless, today's question is about using the WIN32 API with C++. I've been tinkering with a WAV player app which I hope to someday grow into a full blown multi-track digital recording app. But I'm having some issues with the GUI. Specifically, I'd like to implement something like the typical Windows OpenFileDialog window so I can select individual tracks. I've looked at MFC and other GUI packages. But they seem to all rearrange the whole structure of a C++ program. So are there any good libraries out there that just implement simple things like file dialog windows and such?

Good idea on the IT forum. Can't help on the libraries. Sorry.

Check out GTK, wxWindows, and maybe QT - *nix stuff, Open, but at least reading the code may give you some ideas.

Edit - C/C++ is what I got screwed on in school, so I'm not really a lot of help...

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should have explained that I am using bare bones C++ with the WIN32 API - no managed C++ and no VisualC++. And when I say that some of the GUI packages rearrange the structure of C++, what I mean is that I want to keep the message loop and callback procs etc in place. Most of the helper libraries try to hide them. But I like everything to be explicit in my little world.

I guess I'm just a little surprised that there isn't a commonly used, low-level GUI library out there. Perhaps MFC has cornered the market?

Janus - nope. Again, check out GTK, QT, and wxWindows - all C/C++ (and others), they are Open (QT needs a $$ license for win32 IIRC), etc. Take a look at 'em.

I'd stay away from QT if you're ever planning on selling your application. With other OSS libraries you at least have the option of isolating the "meat" from the GUI and then selling the "meat" as an "add-on" to your GUI, without violating any licenses. QT costs a lot, IIRC.

That said, I hated writing MFC code and purged as much of it as I could from my memory. These days, when I have the opportunity to get my hands dirty (which is in frequent) I just develop and implement stuff at the algorithm level...no more GUI programming for Blue....