The Old New Thing
Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.
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Dec 1, 2025
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How do I get my edit control text to be autoselected when I choose it to be the default focus in my dialog?
Remembering some old APIs.
Nov 28, 2025
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7
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How can I have a Win32 drop-down combo box with a read-only edit control?
You can ask for its handle and mark it read-only.
Nov 27, 2025
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Message-only windows are for messaging, not as a convenient victim for hosting UI
If you want to host UI, use a real window (possibly hidden).
Nov 26, 2025
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At what point in the Windows development cycle is it too late to change the text of a translatable string?
The translation team sets the deadline.
Nov 25, 2025
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6
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The apocryphal origins of the Hot Dog Stand color scheme
Challenge accepted.
Nov 24, 2025
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4
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Why does XAML break down when I have an element that is half a billion pixels tall?
You've far exceeded the design goals and have even exceeded the expressive ability of a float.
Nov 21, 2025
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Maybe somebody can explain to me how weak references solve the ODR problem
I don't see it.
Nov 20, 2025
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In the commit-on-demand pattern, what happens if an access violation straddles multiple pages?
The access violation exceptions will continue until commit improves.
Nov 19, 2025
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8
Is WriteProcessMemory faster than shared memory for transferring data between two processes?
Shared memory is the copy-free solution.