How to Create a Status Bar in Every MDI Child Window

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For Visual C++ for Windows and Visual C++ 32-bit Edition version through 2.x, use the following steps to create a status bar in every child window of an MDI Application:

1. Create an MDI Application by using AppWizard.
2. Create a new MDI child window class. Derive it from CMDIChildWnd by using Class Wizard.
3. For the new class, create an OnCreate handler for the WM_CREATE message by using Class Wizard. You can cut and paste the following code from the MAINFRAME.CPP file to the OnCreate handler:

   \* kbon
      if (!m_wndStatusBar.Create(this) ||
             !m_wndStatusBar.SetIndicators(indicators,
               sizeof(indicators)/sizeof(UINT)))
      {
         TRACE("Failed to create status bar\n");
         return -1;       // fail to create
      }
   \* kboff
   							

4. Cut and paste the following definition to the beginning of the newly created child class .CPP file:

   \* kbon
      static UINT BASED_CODE indicators[] =
      {
           ID_SEPARATOR,                 // status line indicator
           ID_INDICATOR_CAPS,
           ID_INDICATOR_NUM,
           ID_INDICATOR_SCRL,
      };
   \* kboff
   							

5. Add the following public data member in the child class .H file:

      CStatusBar m_wndStatusBar;
   							

6. Include your new child class .H file into your project .CPP file.
7. In your project .CPP file, make sure you use your newly derived child window class to replace CMDIChildWnd in AddDocTemplate, as in this example:

   \* kbon
      AddDocTemplate(new CMultiDocTemplate(IDR_PROJTYPE,
                        RUNTIME_CLASS(CProjDoc),
                        RUNTIME_CLASS(CNewChild),
                        RUNTIME_CLASS(CProjView)));
   \* kboff
   						

   Replace PROJ with the project name you provided to AppWizard, and replace CNewChild with the new child class derived from CMDIChildWnd.
8. Build and run your program. You will see the status bar in every MDI child window.

For Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, version 4.0, the process is simpler:

1. Create an MDI Application by using AppWizard.
2. Start ClassWizard. For CChildFrame, create an OnCreate handler for the WM_CREATE message.
3. Edit CChildFrame::OnCreate() in CHILDFRM.CPP. Copy and paste the following code from the CMainFrame::OnCreate() (in MAINFRM.CPP):

         if (!m_wndStatusBar.Create(this) ||
             !m_wndStatusBar.SetIndicators(indicators,
             sizeof(indicators)/sizeof(UINT)))
         {
               TRACE0("Failed to create status bar\n");
               return -1;      // fail to create
         }
   							

4. Copy and paste the following declaration/definition from the top of MAINFRM.CPP to the top of CHILDFRM.CPP, immediately after the END_MESSGE_MAP() macro:

         static UINT indicators[] =
         {
               ID_SEPARATOR,           // status line indicator
               ID_INDICATOR_CAPS,
               ID_INDICATOR_NUM,
               ID_INDICATOR_SCRL,
         };
   							

5. Add the following public data member to CChildFrame in CHILDFRM.H:

      CStatusBar m_wndStatusBar;
   							

6. Build and run your program. You will see the status bar in every MDI child window.