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Messed with SystemParametersInfo and Booleans pvParam parameter


I'm trying to use SystemParametersInfo function to set a Boolean parameter, this is just an example of one of the Booleans parameters that I will set:

' I try to set a boolean parameter, but no matter if I use False or True, 
' the parameter on the SO is always activated.
SystemParametersInfo(SPI.SPI_SETCURSORSHADOW, 0UI, False, SPIF.None)

' I check the modified parameter but always is positive.
Dim MyBoolean As Boolean = False
SystemParametersInfo(SPI.SPI_GETCURSORSHADOW, 0UI, MyBoolean, SPIF.None)

MsgBox(MyBoolean) ' Always is 'True', 
' and in the Advanced properties of the SO;
' the 'Show shadow under mouse' option is always checked.

And this is other example:

' Enable Accelerator Keys Visibility ( The underlined keys of the ContextMenu )
NativeMethods.SystemParametersInfo(SPI.SPI_SETKEYBOARDCUES, 0UI, True, SPIF.None)

The documentation for both in MSDN says to use a False boolean to disable the parameter:

''' <summary>
''' Enables or disables a shadow around the cursor. 
''' The pvParam parameter is a BOOL variable. 
''' Set pvParam to TRUE to enable the shadow or FALSE to disable the shadow. 
''' This effect appears only if the system has a color depth of more than 256 colors.
''' Windows NT, Windows Me/98/95:  This value is not supported.
''' </summary>

But the truth is that I can't find the way to Disable them once they are enabled, I've tried to use directly a boolean value, also with a boolean variable, and with combinations of the SPIF parameter, no way, if I activate a parameter I can't turn it off, I supose that I'm doing something wrong but ...what is?.

PS: I'm using Windows 8 x64

And this is the SystemParametersInfo part:

<DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError:=True)>
Friend Shared Function SystemParametersInfo(
              ByVal uiAction As SPI,
              ByVal uiParam As UInteger,
              ByRef pvParam As Boolean,
              ByVal fWinIni As SPIF
) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean
End Function

<Description("SPI System-wide parameter - Used in SystemParametersInfo function")>
Public Enum SPI As UInteger

    SPI_SETKEYBOARDCUES = &H100B
    SPI_GETCURSORSHADOW = &H101A
    SPI_SETCURSORSHADOW = &H101B

End Enum

<Description("SPIF System-wide parameter - Used in SystemParametersInfo function")>
<Flags>
Enum SPIF

    ''' <summary>
    ''' None
    ''' </summary>
    None = &H0

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Writes the new system-wide parameter setting to the user profile.
    ''' </summary>
    SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE = &H1

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Broadcasts the WM_SETTINGCHANGE message after updating the user profile.
    ''' </summary>
    SPIF_SENDCHANGE = &H2

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Same as SPIF_SENDCHANGE.
    ''' </summary>
    SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE = &H2

End Enum

Solution

  • All the Win32 API stuff tends to be geared for C/C++ where True is 1 (or actually just not zero IIRC). You need to change MyBoolean to Integer and use 0 or 1. You'll also have to change the API signature:

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
     Private Shared Sub SystemParametersInfo(uiAction As UInteger, 
           uiParam As UInteger, ByRef pvParam As Integer, fWinIni As UInteger)
    
     End Sub
    

    This is also why you saw 0 and 1 and the return for many, many of those WndProc messages you were messing with. Its the T/F return whether the message was handled in many cases.