PRB: Only One Language Can Be Used on MessageBoxEx Pushbuttons

ID: Q152670

4.00    | 3.51

WINDOWS | WINDOWS NT kbprg

The information in this article applies to:

  - Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit for:
    - Microsoft Windows NT, version 3.51
    - Microsoft Windows 95, version 4.0

STMPTOMS

When MessageBoxEx is called, regardless of the value of wLanguageID (the last parameter of MessageBoxEx), the pushbutton text can only be displayed in the native language of the operating system.

On Windows NT, if the wLanguageID is the native language ID of the operating system or the wLanguageID is MAKELANGID(LANG_NEUTRAL, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), the pushbutton text is displayed in the native language of that version of NT. Otherwise, the pushbuttons are blank.

For example, on US Windows NT 3.51:

   MessageBoxEx( hWnd, "string", "title", MB_RETRYCANCEL,
         MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US));

would display a MessageBox with two buttons reading: "retry" and "cancel."

However, on the same operating system:

   MessageBoxEx( hWnd, "string", "title", MB_RETRYCANCEL,
         MAKELANGID(LANG_FRENCH, SUBLANG_FRENCH));

would display a MessageBox with two blank buttons.

On Windows 95, regardless of what is specified in wLanguageID, the pushbutton text is in the native language of that version of Windows 95. For example, on US Windows 95, both:

   MessageBoxEx( hWnd, "string", "title", MB_RETRYCANCEL,
         MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US));

   -and-

   MessageBoxEx( hWnd, "string", "title", MB_RETRYCANCEL,
         MAKELANGID(LANG_FRENCH, SUBLANG_FRENCH));

would display a Message Box with two buttons reading: "retry" and "cancel."

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional reference words: 3.51 4.00 resource NLS KBCategory: kbprg KBSubcategory: KBIntlDev

Keywords          : kbIntlDev 
Version           : 4.00 | 3.51
Platform          : NT WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 16, 1998