Thread: Quick question about winAPI resource files & icons

"...What does the int 101 stand for?..."

Resources are represented by integers, and you define an integer with an easily readable value

Code:

//resource file *rc
MY_APPLICATION_ICON ICON "my_application_icon.ico"

//definitions file
#define MY_APPLICATION_ICON 101

//whatever where you need in application code
LoadIcon(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(MY_APPLICATION_ICON));

Is easier and more understandable to use MY_APPLICATION_ICON as reference to my application icon that a 101 value. That value is arbitrary (it can be 4567 as well if you want), just do not repeat it by identifing resources.

The trick I do is (i.ex.): knowing that I usually won't load more that 100 objects of each resource type (BITMAP, ICON, etc..), just use the range from 100-199 for icons, 200-299 to bitmaps, and so on.

Hope that helps
Niara

"...What actually goes within a resource file?..."

Well, on the resource files goes the resources

Heres a sample from both files:

Code:

//definitions.h
#define ARBITRARY_IMAGE_ID 100
#define QUIT_MENU_BUTTON 200

Code:

//resource.rc
#include <windows.h>
#include "definitions.h"

ARBITRARY_IMAGE_ID BITMAP "image.bmp"

//can mix with menu templates
menu MENU
BEGIN
    POPUP "&File"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "&Quit", QUIT_MENU_BUTTON
    END
END

Niara