Designing Applications for High Screen Resolutions

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.1 and 3.0

SUMMARY

Every day, the Microsoft Windows graphical environment is run at greater screen resolutions and sizes with more colors. This article outlines several guidelines to follow to ensure that an application runs well on all video configurations.

MORE INFORMATION

Avoid the following three pitfalls:

1. Hard-coded screen sizes. The VGA 640 by 480 standard resolution screen will not be around forever. If more screen area lets the application display more data, let the window grow as big as the user demands. If screen dimensions are important to the application, use the GetSystemMetrics function with the SM_CXSCREEN and SM_CYSCREEN constants to obtain the screen size.

2. Scaling all screen output proportional to resolution. Many users prefer high screen resolutions for the extra screen "real estate" they allow, not just for improved readability.

3. Centering dialog boxes relative to the screen. On a very large, high-resolution monitor, many applications can run simultaneously without overlapping. Because users expect dialog boxes and notifications to appear near the main application window, position dialog boxes relative to the main application window.

1. Test the application at all screen sizes. Watch out for poorly scaled objects that may require fine-tuning, oversized windows, and hard-to-read fixed-size text.

2. Take advantage of leftover screen real estate. For example, if an application document does not require the full screen, allow users the option of filling the remaining space with multiple windows, toolbars and other controls, help information, and so forth.

3. Use scaled graphical screen resources where possible. If the application uses a toolbar, icons, pictures, and so forth, Windows metafiles are likely to be more versatile than bitmaps (although perhaps slower). Scaling based on screen resolution is more effective than scaling based on application window size.

4. Use the WM_GETMINMAXINFO message to help Windows decide how big the maximized application window needs to be. Maximizing a text editor application to the full 2048 x 2048 screen size is probably not useful. Maximizing an application at startup is particularly impolite.

5. Optimize window redraws. If a window contains a lot of information, try to redraw the entire window as infrequently as possible. Use the InvalidateRect function to coalesce window update regions into a single repaint. Even if there is not much to draw, many application windows may be open on a high-resolution screen.