Legacy Document

Inside Macintosh: Macintosh Toolbox Essentials /

Chapter 4 - Window Manager / Window Manager Reference

Data Structures

The Auxiliary Window Record

The auxiliary window record specifies the color table used by a window and contains reference information used by the Dialog Manager and the Window Manager.

The Window Manager creates and maintains the information in an auxiliary window record; your application seldom, if ever, needs to access an auxiliary window record.

TYPE  AuxWinPtr      = ^AuxWinRec;
      AuxWinHandle   = ^AuxWinPtr;

      AuxWinRec =
      RECORD
         awNext:        AuxWinHandle;  {handle to next record}
         awOwner:       WindowPtr;     {pointer to window }
                                       { associated with this }
                                       { record}
         awCTable:      CTabHandle;    {handle to color table}
         dialogCItem:   Handle;        {storage used by }
                                       { Dialog Manager}
         awFlags:       LongInt;       {reserved}
         awReserved:    CTabHandle;    {reserved}
         awRefCon:      LongInt;       {reference constant, }
                                       { for application's use}
      END;

Field Description

awNext

A handle to the next record in the auxiliary window list, used by the Window Manager to maintain the auxiliary window list as a linked list. If a window is using the default auxiliary window record, this value is NIL.

awOwner

A pointer to the window that uses this record. The awOwner field of the default auxiliary window record is set to NIL.

awCTable

A handle to the window's color table. Unless you specify otherwise, this is a handle to the system window color table.

dialogCItem

Private storage for use by the Dialog Manager.

awFlags

Reserved.

awReserved

Reserved.

awRefCon

The reference constant, typically used by an application to associate the auxiliary window record with a document record.

Except in unusual circumstances, your application doesn't need to manipulate window color tables or the auxiliary window record.

For compatibility with other applications in the shared environment, your application should not manipulate system color tables directly but should go through the Palette Manager, documented in Inside Macintosh: Imaging. If your application provides its own window and control definition functions, these functions should apply the user's desktop color choices the same way the standard window and control definition functions do.