[Tutorial] How to Handle TextBox, Label, ComboBox and CheckBox Events in C++

Learn C++ controls is very easy for newbie, This tutorial will be help you working with TextBox, Label, ComboBox, CheckBox Control.

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Now Build your UI same here:

We have
- Two TextBox with below function
==> Enter a Message: Enter any message (ID = IDC_txtEnterAMessage)
==> Run a Program: Some Program running (ID = IDC_cmbRunAProgram, Data = Notepad++;Paint;Word;)

==> Browser: Browser some file path  (ID = IDC_txtPath)

- Six Button with below function
==> Show Message:  Show Message from textbox which you input (ID = IDC_btnShowMessage)
==> Default Message: Show default message (ID = IDC_btnDefaultMessage)
==> Clear Message: Clear All Message (ID = IDC_btnClearMessage)

==> Run Program: Run one program (ID = IDC_btnRunProgram)
==> Browser: Browser one (ID = IDC_btnBrowser)
==> Exit: Exit Program (ID = IDCANCEL)

- Four CheckBox
==> Enable Message Action (ID = IDC_chkEnableMessageAction)
==> Enable Program Action (ID = IDC_chkEnableProgramAction)
==> Show Message Action  (ID = IDC_chkShowMessageAction)
==> Show Program Action (ID = IDC_chkShowProgramAction)

Tips

MessageBox -> Show message on screen
MessageBox(LPCTSTR text, LPCTSTR caption, Uint Type) MessageBox(_T("open word")); MessageBox(_T("nothing"), _T("Learn Tech Tips"));
WinExec -> Run progress

WinExec(LPCTSTR, Unit) 
WinExec("mspaint.exe", SW_SHOW); 
WinExec("C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office 2010\\Office14\\WINWORD.EXE", SW_SHOW); 

Using below code to open file dialog

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnFileOpen()
{
    TCHAR szFilters[]= _T("All Files (*.*)|*.*||");

    CFileDialog fileDlg(TRUE, _T("*"), _T("*.*"), 
                OFN_FILEMUSTEXIST | OFN_HIDEREADONLY, szFilters);

    // Display the file dialog. When user clicks OK, fileDlg.DoModal()  
    // returns IDOK. 
    if(fileDlg.DoModal() == IDOK)
    {      
 m_txtPath = fileDlg.GetFileTitle(); // don't have ext
 UpdateData(FALSE);      
    }
}

Using GetDlgItem to get Dialog Information

GetDlgItem(int nDlgID)
GetDlgItem(IDC_RUNPROGRAM)

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::GUIProgramChanging(bool flag)
{
    GetDlgItem(IDC_lblRunAProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
    GetDlgItem(IDC_cmbRunAProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
    GetDlgItem(IDC_btnRunProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
}

Full source code Days2_ControlsDlg.cpp files

// Days2_ControlsDlg.cpp : implementation file
/* ---------------------------------------------------------------
 * Developer: huuvi168@gmail.com (VịLH / zidane)
 * Last Modified: 2015-08-08
 * --------------------------------------------------------------- */ 

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "Days2_Controls.h"
#include "Days2_ControlsDlg.h"

#ifdef _DEBUG
#define new DEBUG_NEW
#endif


// CAboutDlg dialog used for App About

class CAboutDlg : public CDialog
{
public:
 CAboutDlg();

// Dialog Data
 enum { IDD = IDD_ABOUTBOX };

 protected:
 virtual void DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX);    // DDX/DDV support

// Implementation
protected:
 DECLARE_MESSAGE_MAP()
public:
 virtual HRESULT accDoDefaultAction(VARIANT varChild);
};

CAboutDlg::CAboutDlg() : CDialog(CAboutDlg::IDD)
{
}

void CAboutDlg::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
 CDialog::DoDataExchange(pDX);
}

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP(CAboutDlg, CDialog)
END_MESSAGE_MAP()


// CDays2_ControlsDlg dialog




CDays2_ControlsDlg::CDays2_ControlsDlg(CWnd* pParent /*=NULL*/)
 : CDialog(CDays2_ControlsDlg::IDD, pParent)
 , m_strMessage(_T(""))
 , m_strProgToRun(_T(""))
 , m_bEnableMessageAction(FALSE)
 , m_bEnableProgramAction(FALSE)
 , m_bShowMessageAction(FALSE)
 , m_bShowProgramAction(FALSE)
 , m_txtPath(_T(""))
{
 m_hIcon = AfxGetApp()->LoadIcon(IDR_MAINFRAME);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
 CDialog::DoDataExchange(pDX);
 DDX_Text(pDX, IDC_txtEnterAMessage, m_strMessage);
 DDX_CBString(pDX, IDC_cmbRunAProgram, m_strProgToRun);
 DDX_Check(pDX, IDC_chkEnableMessageAction, m_bEnableMessageAction);
 DDX_Check(pDX, IDC_chkEnableProgramAction, m_bEnableProgramAction);
 DDX_Check(pDX, IDC_chkShowMessageAction, m_bShowMessageAction);
 DDX_Check(pDX, IDC_chkShowProgramAction, m_bShowProgramAction);
 DDX_Text(pDX, IDC_txtPath, m_txtPath);
}

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP(CDays2_ControlsDlg, CDialog)
 ON_WM_SYSCOMMAND()
 ON_WM_PAINT()
 ON_WM_QUERYDRAGICON()
 //}}AFX_MSG_MAP 
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_btnShowMessage, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnshowmessage)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_btnDefaultMessage, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtndefaultmessage)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_btnClearMessage, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnclearmessage)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_chkEnableMessageAction, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkenablemessageaction)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_chkShowMessageAction, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkshowmessageaction)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_chkEnableProgramAction, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkenableprogramaction)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_btnRunProgram, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnrunprogram)
 ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_btnBrowser, &CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnbrowser)
END_MESSAGE_MAP()


// CDays2_ControlsDlg message handlers

BOOL CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnInitDialog()
{
 CDialog::OnInitDialog();

 // Add "About..." menu item to system menu.

 // IDM_ABOUTBOX must be in the system command range.
 ASSERT((IDM_ABOUTBOX & 0xFFF0) == IDM_ABOUTBOX);
 ASSERT(IDM_ABOUTBOX < 0xF000);

 CMenu* pSysMenu = GetSystemMenu(FALSE);
 if (pSysMenu != NULL)
 {
  CString strAboutMenu;
  strAboutMenu.LoadString(IDS_ABOUTBOX);
  if (!strAboutMenu.IsEmpty())
  {
   pSysMenu->AppendMenu(MF_SEPARATOR);
   pSysMenu->AppendMenu(MF_STRING, IDM_ABOUTBOX, strAboutMenu);
  }
 }

 // Set the icon for this dialog.  The framework does this automatically
 //  when the application's main window is not a dialog
 SetIcon(m_hIcon, TRUE);   // Set big icon
 SetIcon(m_hIcon, FALSE);  // Set small icon

 // TODO: Add extra initialization here
 
 // ---------------------- VịLH Code here ----------------------
 m_strMessage = "Place a message here";

 // set all of check boxes to checked
 
 m_bEnableMessageAction = TRUE;
 m_bShowMessageAction = TRUE;
 m_bEnableProgramAction = TRUE;
 m_bShowProgramAction = TRUE;

 // Update the dialog with the values
 // updateData(FALSE): cập nhật thông tin các biến ra ngoài GUI
 // updateData(TRUE): cập nhật thông tin từ GUI gắn vào biến
 
 UpdateData(FALSE);

 // ---------------------- VịLH Code here ----------------------

 return TRUE;  // return TRUE  unless you set the focus to a control
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnSysCommand(UINT nID, LPARAM lParam)
{
 if ((nID & 0xFFF0) == IDM_ABOUTBOX)
 {
  CAboutDlg dlgAbout;
  dlgAbout.DoModal();
 }
 else
 {
  CDialog::OnSysCommand(nID, lParam);
 }
}

// If you add a minimize button to your dialog, you will need the code below
//  to draw the icon.  For MFC applications using the document/view model,
//  this is automatically done for you by the framework.

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnPaint()
{
 if (IsIconic())
 {
  CPaintDC dc(this); // device context for painting

  SendMessage(WM_ICONERASEBKGND, reinterpret_cast<wparam>(dc.GetSafeHdc()), 0);

  // Center icon in client rectangle
  int cxIcon = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXICON);
  int cyIcon = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYICON);
  CRect rect;
  GetClientRect(&rect);
  int x = (rect.Width() - cxIcon + 1) / 2;
  int y = (rect.Height() - cyIcon + 1) / 2;

  // Draw the icon
  dc.DrawIcon(x, y, m_hIcon);
 }
 else
 {
  CDialog::OnPaint();
 }
}

// The system calls this function to obtain the cursor to display while
// the user drags the minimized window.
HCURSOR CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnQueryDragIcon()
{
 return static_cast<hcursor>(m_hIcon);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnshowmessage()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
 // Update the message variable with that the user entered
 UpdateData(TRUE);

 // Display the message for the user
 if (m_strMessage.IsEmpty() == false)
  MessageBox(m_strMessage, _T("Days 2 - Controls"));
 else
  MessageBox(_T("nothing"), _T("Days 2 - Controls"));
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtndefaultmessage()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here

 m_strMessage = _T("Good luck to you~");
 UpdateData(FALSE);
}



void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnclearmessage()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
 m_strMessage = "";
 UpdateData(FALSE);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkenablemessageaction()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
 UpdateData(TRUE);

  if(m_bEnableMessageAction == TRUE)
   GUIMessageChanging(TRUE);
  else
   GUIMessageChanging(FALSE);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkshowmessageaction()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
 /*if (m_bShowMessageAction == TRUE)
  GetDlgItem(IDC_lblRunAProgram)->ShowWindow(TRUE);
 else
  GetDlgItem(IDC_lblRunAProgram)->ShowWindow(FALSE);*/

}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedchkenableprogramaction()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
 
 UpdateData(TRUE);
 if (m_bEnableProgramAction == TRUE) // checked
  GUIProgramChanging(TRUE);
 else // unchecked
  GUIProgramChanging(FALSE);

}


void CDays2_ControlsDlg::GUIProgramChanging(bool flag)
{
 GetDlgItem(IDC_lblRunAProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_cmbRunAProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_btnRunProgram)->EnableWindow(flag);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::GUIMessageChanging(bool flag)
{
 GetDlgItem(IDC_btnShowMessage)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_txtEnterAMessage)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_btnDefaultMessage)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_btnClearMessage)->EnableWindow(flag);
 GetDlgItem(IDC_lblEnterAMessage)->EnableWindow(flag);
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnrunprogram()
{
 // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here

 // get the current values from the screen
 UpdateData(TRUE);

 // Declare a local variable for holding the program name
 CString strProgramName;

 // Copy the program name to the local variable
 strProgramName = m_strProgToRun;

 // make the program name all uppercase
 strProgramName.MakeUpper();


 // Notepad++;Paint;Word;
 DWORD dwError = 0; 

 // did the user select to run the paint Program?
 if (strProgramName == "PAINT") // run the paint program
 {
  WinExec("mspaint.exe", SW_SHOW);
  MessageBox(_T("open Paint"));
 }
 else if (strProgramName == "NOTEPAD++")
  WinExec("notepad.exe", SW_SHOW);
 else if (strProgramName == "WORD")
 {
  WinExec("C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office 2010\\Office14\\WINWORD.EXE", SW_SHOW);
  MessageBox(_T("open word"));
 }
 else
  dwError = GetLastError(); 
 
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnBnClickedbtnbrowser()
{
 
 OnFileOpen();
}

void CDays2_ControlsDlg::OnFileOpen()
{
 TCHAR szFilters[]= _T("All Files (*.*)|*.*||");

 CFileDialog fileDlg(TRUE, _T("*"), _T("*.*"),
      OFN_FILEMUSTEXIST | OFN_HIDEREADONLY, szFilters);

   // Display the file dialog. When user clicks OK, fileDlg.DoModal()  
   // returns IDOK. 
   if(fileDlg.DoModal() == IDOK)
   {      
      m_txtPath = fileDlg.GetFileTitle(); // don't have ext
      m_txtPath = fileDlg.GetFileName(); // contains ext
   
   UpdateData(FALSE);      
   }
} 

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you found it helpful and easy to follow. If you have any feedback or questions about How to Handle TextBox, Label, ComboBox and CheckBox Events in C++ , please share them in the comments below. I would love to hear from you and discuss this topic further

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