A question regarding GetDIBits

[dullboy]

I was trying to use GetDIBits. I have a question regarding the first argument of GetDIBits, i.e., HDC hdc. First of all, what is the exact meaning of THIS device context? Why'd we need a device contxt here since what we want to get is a data buffer? Thanks for your inputs.

[olivthill]

It is the display context where the bitmap is selected.
I know this sounds strange, but that's how it works.
Lately, I have found that the bitmap does not need to be bitblitted in the the bitmap of the device context ; at least on my computer and with my version of Windows.