DOCUMENT:Q154823 11-JAN-2001 [vbwin] TITLE :HOWTO: Determine the Size of the Desktop Area PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows PROD/VER: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbGrpDSVB ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Control Creation Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= It is often useful to determine the size and position of the display area taking the system tray into account. There are at least two methods to obtain this information: One requires the use of an OCX, while another makes a call to the Win32 API. This article demonstrates the step-by-step approaches to both of these methods. MORE INFORMATION ================ Method 1 -------- NOTE: In Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0, the SYSINFO.OCX control is in the \VB4\TOOLS\SYSINFO folder of the Visual Basic CD-ROM. It does not ship with the diskette version, and it is not automatically installed by Visual Basic Setup. Copy SYSINFO.OCX to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder, and register it with REGOCX32.EXE. In Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 and later, SYSINFO.OCX is installed by default. Use the SYSINFO.OCX control in your project. It has a number of useful properties, four of which disclose the size and position of the desktop area in twips. Follow the steps below: 1. Start Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default. 2. Add a Command button to Form1. 3. From the Tools menu, choose Custom Controls and check the "Microsoft System Info" component. If the component is not listed, click the browse button and locate SYSINFO.OCX. 4. Add a SysInfo control to Form1. 5. Add the following code to the Command1_Click event: Private Sub Command1_Click() With SysInfo1 Print "WorkAreaLeft: " & .WorkAreaLeft / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX Print "WorkAreaTop: " & .WorkAreaTop / Screen.TwipsPerPixelY Print "WorkAreaWidth: " & .WorkAreaWidth / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX Print "WorkAreaHeight: " & .WorkAreaHeight / Screen.TwipsPerPixelY End With End Sub 6. Choose Start from the Run menu, or press the F5 key to run the project. 7. Click the Command button to observe the size of the work area. Method 2 -------- The SystemParametersInfo function has many uses, including the ability to determine the size and position of the desktop. Follow the steps below: 1. Start Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default. 2. From the Insert menu, choose Module to add a single code module to the project. Module1 is created by default. 3. Add the following code to Module1: Type RECT Left As Long Top As Long Right As Long Bottom As Long End Type Public Const SPI_GETWORKAREA = 48 Declare Function SystemParametersInfo Lib "user32" _ Alias "SystemParametersInfoA" (ByVal uAction As Long, _ ByVal uParam As Long, lpvParam As Any, ByVal fuWinIni As Long) _ As Long 4. Add a Command button to Form1. 5. Add the following code to the Command1_Click event: Private Sub Command1_Click() Dim lRet As Long Dim apiRECT As RECT lRet = SystemParametersInfo(SPI_GETWORKAREA, vbNull, apiRECT, 0) If lRet Then Print "WorkAreaLeft: " & apiRECT.Left Print "WorkAreaTop: " & apiRECT.Top Print "WorkAreaWidth: " & apiRECT.Right - apiRECT.Left Print "WorkAreaHeight: " & apiRECT.Bottom - apiRECT.Top Else Print "Call to SystemParametersInfo failed." End If End Sub 6. Choose Start from the Run menu, or press the F5 key to run the project. 7. Click the Command button to observe the size of the work area. REFERENCES ========== SYSINFO.HLP in the \TOOLS\SYSINFO directory on the Visual Basic 4.0 CD-ROM. In Visual Basic 5.0 and later, SYSINFO.HLP IS IN THE WINDOWS\HELP directory. Win32 SDK on the MSDN Visual Basic starter kit. This can be installed by running SETUP.EXE from the MSDN directory on the Visual Basic 4.0 CD-ROM. For more information, please see the following articles on the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q113702 : How to Control the Placement of Desktop Windows Q97142 : How to Use SystemParametersInfo API for Control Panel Settings Additional query words: kbVBp400 kbVBp500 kbVBp600 KBWIN32SDK KBAPI kbVBp kbdsd kbDSupport ====================================================================== Keywords : kbGrpDSVB Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbVB400Search kbVB400 kbZNotKeyword3 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.