Error C2440: "static_cast" | Beyond C++

by stilling2006 on 2010-06-21 18:21:44

### Translation:

Error message: `error C2440: "static_cast": cannot convert from "void (__thiscall *)" to "LRESULT (__thiscall CWnd::* )(WPARAM, LPARAM)"`

If you encounter the above error during programming, it is highly likely due to issues with message mapping after migrating a project from VC6.0 to VS2005. For example, the complete error message I encountered was:

`error C2440: "static_cast": cannot convert from "void (__thiscall CMouseControlDlg::* )(WPARAM, LPARAM)" to "LRESULT (__thiscall CWnd::* )(WPARAM, LPARAM)"`

The issue in my case occurred with the `OnHotKey` function, which is a custom message handler that I wrote. In VC6.0, it was declared as follows:

```cpp

afx_msg void OnHotHotKey();

```

---

### Explanation of the Problem:

This error occurs because there are differences in how Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 (VC6.0) and Visual Studio 2005 (VS2005) handle type safety in message maps. Specifically:

1. **Return Type Mismatch**: In VS2005, message handlers for certain Windows messages (such as `WM_HOTKEY`) must return `LRESULT` instead of `void`. This stricter type checking ensures compatibility with the underlying Windows API.

2. **Type Casting Issues**: The `static_cast` used internally by the MFC framework to map message handlers to their respective functions fails when the function signatures do not match exactly.

---

### Solution:

To resolve this issue, you need to modify the declaration of the `OnHotKey` function to match the expected signature in VS2005. Update the function as follows:

#### Original Declaration in VC6.0:

```cpp

afx_msg void OnHotKey();

```

#### Updated Declaration for VS2005:

```cpp

afx_msg LRESULT OnHotKey(WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam);

```

Additionally, update the function implementation to return an appropriate value (e.g., `0`):

#### Example Implementation:

```cpp

LRESULT CMouseControlDlg::OnHotKey(WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)

{

// Handle the hotkey event here

// ...

return 0; // Return 0 to indicate success

}

```

Finally, ensure that the message map entry for `OnHotKey` is correctly defined in your class's message map:

```cpp

BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP(CMouseControlDlg, CDialog)

ON_WM_HOTKEY()

END_MESSAGE_MAP()

```

By making these changes, the function signature will align with the expectations of the MFC framework in VS2005, resolving the `C2440` error.