Windows PowerShell replaces the outdated batch files and Windows Scripting Host with a brand new object-oriented shell and scripting language. In this article, you will learn how to retrieve directory and filenames from a specific drive.

Windows Vista brings tablet-style development to the mainstream by incorporating ink functionality directly into the core operating system. The greater availability of operating system support for ink is complemented by new Vista drivers from digitizer OEMs that provide the same functionality as a full TabletPC device, greatly increasing the potential client-base for ink enabled applications. This article will look at how an existing application can work with new forms of input without a major re-design.

Within the new threading and synchronization APIs that Microsoft added to the Windows SDK for Vista, condition variables dramatically simplify the semantics of lock acquisition and management.

If you have been using Vista, you would have noticed that MessageBoxes are passé. These have been replaced by the new Task Dialogs. Task dialogs are intended to make the experience more interactive and goal-oriented. Take a tour of the Task Dialog API.

Learn about a simple mechanism to achieve thread pooling by using Windows messages.

Discover WDF DDIs provided for dynamic enumeration.

Take a closer look at the 2 Gb limit that we are plagued with in different languages, and how to get around them.

Learn about a framework for rapid development of NT services. Also includes tools for stack tracing, performance testing, generic logging/debugging, memory leak testing, and thread pooling.

Learn about an approach to creating thunks/trampolines to non-static member functions in 32-bit VC++.

With the rapid increase in parallel computing, correct threading, and synchronization are vitally important to programmers building scalable, high-performance solutions. Explore the new one-time object initialization APIs in Vista from a C++ programmer's perspective.

Learn about two Explorer Shell Extensions: One creates File Checksums; the other verifies File Checksums.

The way Vista closes applications during operating system shut down has changed from prior Windows versions' approaches. Learn how to provide your users with appropriate notification from the Vista shut down screen.

Protect Software with Product Keys based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

The CAESEncRegKey class addresses the occasional problem of securely saving data to the Registry. This article presents Yet Another Registry Class that encrypts data using AES.

Learn how to replace the displayed icon of an executable file with an .ICO file of your choice.

Learn how to build an efficient library to provide support for Message Only Windows. The article also shows how to use the Thunk32 library provided in an earlier article, as well as some general pointers on good practices and patterns.

Reap great benefits from barcode integration. The TBarCode DLL component is a barcoding solution you can use to print reports or stickers that will verify inventory when scanned.

Add one header file to your *.vcproj, insert a few lines of code into your class header, and you'll never again worry about the asynchronous routines in your ATL GUI application.

Discover a basic SMBIOS parser that demonstrates querying for SMBIOS info using WMI and then parsing the data to extract necessary information.

Mpatrol has been around for quite some time. It is a simple library that hooks into memory management. Learn how to use it on the Windows platform.

Learn to inject your code into an Import Table of a Portable Executable file format. This is called the API redirection technique.

Learn about a Win32 C++ class for recursive path file scanning.

Multilingual Library adds multiple UI languages' support to your MFC application.

Learn to intercept WinAPI calls.

Discover a free tool (with source code) that demonstrates how to programatically set System Environment Variables.

Learn how to hook a DirectX/COM Interface. The DirectInput interface was used as an example of how to hook an interface function.

The need to encrypt sensitive information is more important than ever. Luckily, the C++ class library Crypto++ enables you to encrypt your application data regularly and painlessly.

Learn the five steps needed to inject your code in a portable executable (EXE, DLL, OCX,...) file without recompiling the source code.

Learn about a C++ implementation of Windows FileSystemObject objects. It wraps and extends standard FileSystemObject interfaces (methods/properties).

Currently, this is the best way to protect XP systems from malware and accidental changes.

Learn about a framework for concurrent message processing for disconnected, multi-threaded applications.

Learn how to add genuine Windows XP theme support to Rich Edit controls and extend the code for your own custom controls!

Learn about the delayed rendering of Clipboard data, which is an intelligent alternative to simply copying all data onto the Clipboard.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005: Why Be Bothered with It?

Does your application need to get called at some point in time? Do you want to inform the user regarding what's going on? Learn how to use Windows Mobile Notifications and Power Manager, and benefit from both!

Learn how to select multiple items without pressing the CTRL or SHIFT key on a touchscreen app or Windows CE app.

Windows message boxes do not provide a standard interface for modifying button captions. Learn how to make the caption changes.

Control the number of windows instances for your app.

Have you ever wanted to show video clips in your application or maybe play audio files? Learn how to do it easily with the Windows Media Player Control!

Tons of information about DOS registers and their functions.

Windows GDI+ understands only half of the fonts out there. Use the QGraphicsText class to work with the other half.

The new State and Notification Broker API provides the Windows Mobile 5.0 environment with a built-in notification broker structure. Learn to use this API to implement code that monitors and responds to changes in client system states.

MS ActiveSync has many great features you can utilize in your applications. This article will guide you through an implementation of custom File Filters to make possible file conversions to pass the data back and forth between the PDA and desktop computer.

"Profile" a block of C++ code with just one include file and two variable definitions.

Learn about a documented and most portable way to walk a callstack for any thread (current, other, and remote). It has an abstraction layer, so the calling app does not need to know the internals.

Learn to implement discretionary access control on securable NT objects.

With the help of POOM (Pocket Outlook Object Model), you can implement sophisticated and customized mobile applications with rich functionality.

The NTFS windows file system has introduced several features that improve the performance, stability, and reliability of file storage. Of these, three features lend themselves to advanced methods of information storage and collation. Few applications have, however, made extensive use of these features. This article introduces these features and identifies some of the potential uses each one exhibits.

Learn how to display a menu with thumbnails and several other windows, move and manage the pieces of a puzzle with a linked list, and then show them without flicker.

Learn how to parse XML files by using MSXML 3.0, an XML parser from Microsoft.