C++Builder 5 Developers Guide

by Paul Gustavson

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Win32 API Background

• Windows Management

• System Services

• Graphical Device Interface

• Multimedia Services

• Common Controls and Dialogs

• Shell Features

• International Features

• Network Services

The Windows 32-bit (Win32) Application Programming Interface (API) provides a wide set of C-language functions and structures for developing and deploying Windows-compliant applications. API calls often perform various services for a Windows application such as providing a common dialog box for opening and saving files or sending a document to the printer.

In this chapter, we will examine the functional areas of the Win32 API as identified in Figure 14.1. Examining these functional areas provides the necessary insight into understanding the composition and capabilities the API provides developers. For each key functional area, we will also develop some useful examples with C++Builder that demonstrate the application of the Win32 API.