INFO: Detecting Whether a Menu Is Open (96427)

SUMMARY

With Windows version 3.1, an application can determine whether a menu is open in the system by calling the GetSystemDebugState function. An application can use this information to perform its tasks without interfering with the menu mechanism of Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, if a background application displays a hidden pop-up window while a menu is open in some other application, the user who opened the menu will be confused. In this situation, the background application must check the menu state of the system before displaying its hidden pop-up window.

GetSystemDebugState function returns a LONG value that can be used to determine the menu state of the system. The function can be used as follows:

   if ( GetSystemDebugState() & SDS_MENU )
       // Yes! There is a menu open.
     else
       // No! There is no menu open.

For further information on the GetSystemDebugState function, please see page 445 of "Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit, Programmer's Reference, Volume 2: Functions" manual.