INFO: Drawing Outside a Window's Client Area (33096)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.1
  • Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
    • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
    • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
    • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
This article was previously published under Q33096

SUMMARY

When an application uses the BeginPaint or GetDC function to obtain a device context (DC) for its client window and draws into this DC, Windows clips the output to the edge of the client window. While this is usually the desired effect, there are circumstances where an application draws outside the client area of its window.

MORE INFORMATION

The GetWindowDC function provides a DC that allows an application to draw anywhere within its window, including the nonclient area.

In the Windows environment, the display is a scarce resource that is shared by all applications running in the system. Most of the time, an application should restrict its output to the area of the screen it has been assigned by the user. However, an application can use the CreateDC function to obtain a DC for the entire display, as follows: 
   hDC = CreateDC("DISPLAY", NULL, NULL, NULL);
Device contexts are another scarce resource in the Windows environment. When an application creates a DC in response to a WM_PAINT message, it must call the DeleteDC function to free the DC before it completes processing of the message.

Painting in the nonclient area of a window is not recommended. If an application changes the nonclient area of its window, the user can become confused because the familiar Windows controls change appearance or are not available. An application should not corrupt other windows on the display.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/21/2005
Keywords:kbinfo KB33096
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