SetWindowTextA function (winuser.h)

Changes the text of the specified window's title bar (if it has one). If the specified window is a control, the text of the control is changed. However, SetWindowText cannot change the text of a control in another application.

Syntax

BOOL SetWindowTextA(
  [in]           HWND   hWnd,
  [in, optional] LPCSTR lpString
);

Parameters

[in] hWnd

Type: HWND

A handle to the window or control whose text is to be changed.

[in, optional] lpString

Type: LPCTSTR

The new title or control text.

Return value

Type: BOOL

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

If the target window is owned by the current process, SetWindowText causes a WM_SETTEXT message to be sent to the specified window or control. If the control is a list box control created with the WS_CAPTION style, however, SetWindowText sets the text for the control, not for the list box entries.

To set the text of a control in another process, send the WM_SETTEXT message directly instead of calling SetWindowText.

The SetWindowText function does not expand tab characters (ASCII code 0x09). Tab characters are displayed as vertical bar (|) characters.

Examples

For an example, see Sending a Message.

Requirements

See also

Conceptual

GetWindowText

Reference

WM_SETTEXT

Windows