Getting the WinMain() lpCmdLine in Unicode

Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q90912
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) included with:

        - Microsoft Windows NT versions 3.1 and 3.5
    

The prototype for WinMain() is as follows:

   int PASCAL WinMain(
          HANDLE hInstance,
          HANDLE hPrevInstance,
          LPSTR lpCmdLine,
          int nCmdShow );

The third parameter is an LPSTR, which specifies an ANSI string. WinMain() cannot be defined to accept Unicode input because there is no way for the system to know whether or not the application wants Unicode at the time WinMain() is called; the system knows once the application has registered a window class.

To get the arguments in Unicode, use GetCommandLine().


Additional reference words: 3.10 3.50
KBCategory: kbui
KBSubcategory: UsrNls


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.

Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.