Extended Window Styles

Below is a list of the extended window styles. The main difference between these and regular window styles is that these are specified as a separate value. (For example, a call to CreateWindowEx takes one parameter for extended window styles and a second parameter for "regular" window styles.) These styles can be applied to any type of window, although many of them apply best to overlapped windows.

Extended Styles

WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES
The window accepts files via a drag-and-drop operation.
WS_EX_APPWINDOW
The window also appears on the taskbar whenever it is visible.
WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE
The window has a border with a sunken edge.
WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP
A context-help button appears on the title bar. This cannot be used with the WS_MAXIMIZEBOX or WS_MINIMIZEBOX regular window styles.
WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT
The window contains children which can be TABbed through.
WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME
The window has a modal dialog frame (a double border).
WS_EX_LAYERED
Windows 2000: The window is a layered window.
WS_EX_LAYOUTRTL
Windows 2000: The window's coordinate system places the horizontal origin on the right side, with increasing x values to the left and decreasing x values to the right.
WS_EX_LEFT
The window has generic left-aligned properties.
WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR
If the language supports reading order alignment, position the vertical scroll bar (if any) to the left of the client area.
WS_EX_LTRREADING
Display window text using left-to-right reading.
WS_EX_MDICHILD
The window is an MDI child window.
WS_EX_NOACTIVATE
Windows 2000: The window is never brought to the foreground as a result of direct user action.
WS_EX_NOINHERITLAYOUT
Windows 2000: Do not pass the window's layout to its child windows.
WS_EX_NOPARENTNOTRIFY
If the window is a child window, do not notify the parent window when the child window is created or destroyed.
WS_EX_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW
The window has the border of a typical overlapped window.
WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW
The window is a topmost toolbar window with a raised edge, normally used for a floating palette.
WS_EX_RIGHT
The window has generic right-aligned properties, if the language supports reading order alignment.
WS_EX_RIGHTSCROLLBAR
Display the vertical scroll bar (if any) to the right of the client area.
WS_EX_RTLREADING
Display window text using right-to-left reading, if the language supports reading order alignment.
WS_EX_STATICEDGE
The window has a three-dimensional border intended for items which do not accept user input.
WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW
The window is designed to be a floating toolbar window, having a small title bar area.
WS_EX_TOPMOST
The window appears above all non-topmost windows, even if it is not active.
WS_EX_TRANSPARENT
The window appears transparent because its sibling windows below it are drawn first.
WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE
The window has a border with a raised edge.

Constant Definitions

Note: Some of the values of the extended window style flags are not listed. If you know their values, please e-mail me about them.

Const WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES = &H10
Const WS_EX_APPWINDOW = &H40000
Const WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE = &H200
Const WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP = &H400
Const WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT = &H10000
Const WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME = &H1
' Const WS_EX_LAYERED = ???
' Const WS_EX_LAYOUTRTL = ???
Const WS_EX_LEFT = &H0
Const WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR = &H4000
Const WS_EX_LTRREADING = &H0
Const WS_EX_MDICHILD = &H40
Const WS_EX_NOACTIVATE = &H8000000
' Const WS_EX_NOINHERITLAYOUT = ???
Const WS_EX_NOPARENTNOTIFY = &H4
Const WS_EX_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW = &H300
Const WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW = &H188
Const WS_EX_RIGHT = &H1000
Const WS_EX_RIGHTSCROLLBAR = &H0
Const WS_EX_RTLREADING = &H2000
Const WS_EX_STATICEDGE = &H20000
Const WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW = &H80
Const WS_EX_TOPMOST = &H8
Const WS_EX_TRANSPARENT = &H20
Const WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE = &H100

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Last Modified: January 21, 2001
This page is copyright © 2001 Paul Kuliniewicz. Copyright Information Revised October 29, 2000
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