G'day,

I have downloaded a VB application that uses the WIN API functions ( for serial data transfer)
It looks really good, but is this inherent in the operating system? or do I need to download some software?
Also, is there any text that explains all the WIN API functions??
regards,
Elric

someone in this forum before gave this link:

www.winprog.org

and find the tutorial page.

:)

G'day,

Thanks for the link wtk- there was some good info there. Unfortunately, the auther(s) have long forgotten what a simple question is , and I don't have the time to learn enough just to ask a question (or get a high enough MENSA rating..).
The VB file makes a reference to certain API functions: all I want to know is; are they part of windows or do I need other software??
regards,
Elric

Visual Basic workshop
Programming with the Windows API
http://www.pcplus.co.uk/media/pcplus/pdf/175/175.progworld.vb.pdf
===========================================
HOWTO: Get Started Programming with the Windows API (LONG)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q190000
===========================================
The purpose of each function in the Windows API is documented in the Platform Software Development Kit (SDK). The Platform SDK is shipped with Microsoft Visual C++ and as part of a subscription to the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN.)You can also download the Platform SDK from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/setuplauncher.htm

G'day,

Thanks for those links egkenny: that was more like the level I was aiming at. It'll give me enough info to get started.
That SDK page said it was an update and it also mentioned money. Is it a full download? and do I have to pay for it?
I'm completely new to this, so I'll ask another newbie question:
I saw mentioned the Microsoft Foundation Classes in one article; how much is it related to the API functions?
regards,
Elric

You can select and download individual components or download the entire SDK from the downloads tab. The entire SDK will take awhile since it is 342,000,000 bytes.

Visual C++ and Visual Basic comes with MSDN disks which provide now only help for them but the option to install the help for the Windows SDK. All of the documentation is in C so you have to figure out how to use the Windows API calls from Visual Basic.

The Windows API is written in C. MFC is a higher level C++ set of classes that maps closely the Windows API but does not replace it. You can usually mix calls to MFC and the Windows API. Sometimes direct calls to the Windows API are even necessay because MFC does does cover all the functionality of the Windows API.

G'day,

Thanks for that info (it's just foggy now instead of black!!) I did get some info on the MFC/ API link.
However, I think I'd better have a think about which parts of the SDK to download (I'm not sure how many years it would take to download 340MB with my slow 56kb/s modem link!!), so I'll wait until I know a bit more.
regards.
Elric