The BeginPath function opens a path bracket in the specified device context.
BOOL BeginPath(
HDC hdc // handle to device context
);
If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.
If the function fails, the return value is zero.
Windows NT: To get extended error information, call GetLastError.
After a path bracket is open, an application can begin calling GDI drawing functions to define the points that lie in the path. An application can close an open path bracket by calling the EndPath function.
When an application calls BeginPath for a device context, any previous paths are discarded from that device context.
Windows NT: The following drawing functions define points in a path:
| AngleArc | LineTo | Polyline |
| Arc | MoveToEx | PolylineTo |
| ArcTo | Pie | PolyPolygon |
| Chord | PolyBezier | PolyPolyline |
| CloseFigure | PolyBezierTo | Rectangle |
| Ellipse | PolyDraw | RoundRect |
| ExtTextOut | Polygon | TextOut |
Windows 95 and Windows 98: When constructing a path, only the CloseFigure, ExtTextOut, LineTo, MoveToEx, PolyBezier, PolyBezierTo, Polygon, Polyline, PolylineTo, PolyPolygon, PolyPolyline, and TextOut functions are recorded.
Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
Windows CE: Unsupported.
Header: Declared in wingdi.h.
Import Library: Use gdi32.lib.
Paths Overview, Path Functions, EndPath, FillPath, PathToRegion, SelectClipPath, StrokeAndFillPath, StrokePath, WidenPath