MFC Framework Cheatsheet

The Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) framework is a powerful library for developing Windows applications using C++. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting, having a handy cheatsheet can significantly boost your productivity. In this blog post, we’ll explore key aspects of the MFC framework through a comprehensive cheatsheet.

1. Getting Started

Creating an MFC Application

// YourApp.cpp
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "YourApp.h"

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP(CYourAppApp, CWinApp)
  ON_COMMAND(ID_HELP, &CWinApp::OnHelp)
END_MESSAGE_MAP()

CYourAppApp theApp;

BOOL CYourAppApp::InitInstance()
{
  CWinApp::InitInstance();
  CMainFrame* pFrame = new CMainFrame;
  m_pMainWnd = pFrame;
  pFrame->LoadFrame(IDR_MAINFRAME, WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW | FWS_ADDTOTITLE, nullptr, nullptr);
  return TRUE;
}

2. UI Design with MFC

Adding Controls to Dialog

// YourDialog.cpp
void CYourDialog::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
  CDialogEx::DoDataExchange(pDX);
  DDX_Text(pDX, IDC_EDIT_NAME, m_strName);
  DDX_Check(pDX, IDC_CHECK_ENABLED, m_bEnabled);
}

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP(CYourDialog, CDialogEx)
  ON_BN_CLICKED(IDC_BUTTON_OK, &CYourDialog::OnBnClickedOk)
END_MESSAGE_MAP()

3. Working with Views and Documents

Creating a View Class

// YourView.cpp
class CYourView : public CView
{
  DECLARE_DYNCREATE(CYourView)
public:
  virtual void OnDraw(CDC* pDC);
  // Other member functions and variables
};

IMPLEMENT_DYNCREATE(CYourView, CView)

4. Handling Events in MFC

Command Handling

// YourView.cpp
void CYourView::OnLButtonDown(UINT nFlags, CPoint point)
{
  // Handle left mouse button down event
}

5. File I/O in MFC

Reading from a File

// YourDoc.cpp
void CYourDoc::OnFileOpen()
{
  CFileDialog dlg(TRUE, nullptr, nullptr, OFN_FILEMUSTEXIST | OFN_HIDEREADONLY,
    _T("Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|All Files (*.*)|*.*||"));
  if (dlg.DoModal() == IDOK)
  {
    CString filePath = dlg.GetPathName();
    // Process the file
  }
}

6. Database Operations

Executing SQL Queries

// YourDatabaseView.cpp
CDatabase database;
database.OpenEx(_T("DSN=YourDSN;"), CDatabase::noOdbcDialog);
CRecordset recordset(&database);
recordset.Open(CRecordset::forwardOnly, _T("SELECT * FROM YourTable"));
while (!recordset.IsEOF())
{
  // Process the data
  recordset.MoveNext();
}
recordset.Close();
database.Close();

This cheatsheet covers essential aspects of the MFC framework, providing a quick reference for developers navigating the intricacies of Windows application development. Keep this handy, and you’ll find yourself mastering MFC with greater ease.

FAQ