IDEs and Resource Editors

Hi,

Ok, I'm a fairly experienced programmer in various languages, but am now trying to turn my hand to windows programming in C / C++.

My application is currently written in java, but that is proving to be too slow, so I intend to migrate to C / C++.

First up, apologies for what is likely to be a spate of silly questions while I find my feet!

Right, I hate paying for anything if I can help it, so I'm looking for an open source / shareware / freeware IDE and compiler setup. I have tried Quincy which seemed a little lightweight and I am now trying out lcc-win32.

Unfortunately, I can't get the resource editor to work. If I open what claims to be the editor, none of the resources shows and if I attempt to add, say a dialog, the whole application crashes!

So, I'm either looking for one of the following:-

1. Another integrated IDE (free) that does work properly.
2. A stand-alone resource editor (again free) which can save as a .rc file and create the associated header file.
3. A really good tutorial on how to create resource files from scratch.

Over to you guys!

Cheers and TIA,

Paul

Here is what I have:

1) VC++ 2005 Express (no integrated resource editor)
2) Symantec Resource Editor
3) RC.HLP + RS32.HLP - comes with SRE

Code::Blocks, no resource editor (all in code).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manutd

Code::Blocks, no resource editor (all in code).

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Whats the best way to convert resources to code?

Convert? You just create a .rc file and manually type in text, as opposed to having software create it for you. Then you use it the same way.

Yep, I use CodeBlocks and wouldn't have my .rc files any other way. I've tried MS VS 2005's res editor, and its all fine and dandy... until you need to tweak minute details by hand and you go to open up the .rc file in a favourite text editor and it looks something like the inside of an industrial sized blender.

I was previously using Dev-C++, but switched to CB rc2 for two main reasons:
1. You can install it on any path.
2. It has collapsable code sections.
May not sound like much of a reason, but after 7000+ lines of code... it saves your sanity.

I switched because Dev-C++ blew up in my face...Code::Blocks seems much more finished and professional to me, not to mention the fact that it is actually being updated.

I have to agree. I had lots of trouble with Dev-C++ so I gave CodeBlocks a try and it is a great IDE, although I must admit i like using MSVS resource editor! ;)

Thanks for the suggestions folks!

Ok, so it looks like code:blocks has the vote... I'll have a look.

BUT

Several of you recommend hand-crafting my .rc files. I'm happy to do this but could use a good reference to the syntax, options etc etc.

Anyone knowof such a beast. I've been googling away, but just can't seem to hit on the right search string! :rolleyes:

Secondly, I'm a little unclear about icons and other graphical / binary resources. When I complile, will these be automatically incorporated into my .exe, or do I need to set this up?

TIA

Paul

Resource definition statements.

Icons are introduced in the resource and put into the window in the main piece of code.

You may have already come across this on your travels, but theForger's win32api tutorial is really helpful, and the section on resources might help you out with #3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manutd

Convert? You just create a .rc file and manually type in text, as opposed to having software create it for you. Then you use it the same way.

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You DON'T want to create dialogs that way!

lcc-win32 hasnt been updated in a very long time. last I looked it only supports processors up to the pentium pro;

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manutd

Code::Blocks, no resource editor (all in code).

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which makes it a bit of a pain, also, it wont run under Vista. If you dont need to run under Vista, then its great;

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bajanine

although I must admit i like using MSVS resource editor!

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MSVS really does have the best IDE in my opinion. So much so that at home I use VS 4.0 to edit the code, then compile it with Dev-C++;

You can check out the slides of the University I attend for some example resource scripts:
http://www.cs.um.edu.mt/~kguil/csa2100.html

The part on resources starts on slide 90, and is not that bad. For some reason references about resource scripts seem to be lacking on the internet, so I found those slides particularly useful myself.