Adding accelerators(shortcuts) in MFC - HOW?

Question

I found this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222829

But I can't understand that much.

Ok, I understood I need to add this to my header file:

HACCEL  m_hAccelTable;

and then this:

m_hAccelTable = LoadAccelerators(AfxGetInstanceHandle(), MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDR_ACCELERATOR1));

to my main .cpp

But where does this go?

BOOL CAboutDlg::PreTranslateMessage(MSG* pMsg) {
   if (m_hAccelTable) {
      if (::TranslateAccelerator(m_hWnd, m_hAccelTable, pMsg)) {
         return(TRUE);
      }
   }
   return CDialog::PreTranslateMessage(pMsg);

}

I need around 6 shortcuts (CTRL + U to load something, CTRL + O to load smth else), I can't understand how this works, need a little bit of help

Answer 1

Now, MSDN article is misleading. It shows how to add accelerators to About box and only About box will be able to handle accelerator that is in this case equivalent of pressing the button with IDC_BUTTON1 ID.

You need to do something very different allowing all objects in your application to get a chance to handle this message. This is done for you in MDI/SDI apps.

Once you create accelerator table in the resource, you have to add accelerators: Key combination paired Accelerator key combination, when used generates command message with appropriate ID. Once you are done adding, you have to create command message handlers for each of the ID. When accelerator is used the handler is invoked and you can add the code you need. Now do this: Declare HACCEL type variable to your app class. In the InitInstance call LoadAccelerators. Use wizard to insert PreTranslateMessage override in your application class. Add following:

      if (m_hAccelTable) 
      {
                if (::TranslateAccelerator(*m_pMainWnd, m_hAccelTable, pMsg)) 
                {
                          return(TRUE);
                }
      }

This will allow the main dialog to handle accelerators. Note *m_pMainWnd. It is your dialog handle (automatically casted). Now you can add handlers for any accelerator to the dialog or to the application class. You can also route command messages to any window in your application using OnCmdMsg.

My advice for the future. When you decide to make your app a dialog based, consider creating SDI application with CFormView derived class. You can change frame style to not allow resizing and it will look like dialog based but. . . You will have ability to use a toolbar a menu for free and most importantly you will have all accelerator and command routing for free.