Resources

hey all,
No matter which site I go to, every tutorial explains resources very vaguely saying it is compiler specific. I don't really understand them at all . I know you have to have a source file(is it the 1 that is executed and is it .c or .cpp?), and header and a resource script file. The problem is no matter which examples i put in there they never work. They work with the same code but never when I try to change a name or something simple like that. Not to sure on how to set one up, so can some1 sugggest a detailed site(tryed forger's but it was vague to me atleast ) or explain it a lil' on here? Most to the example source codes are in .c. Thx l8er

-fire

MSD: About resources (microsoft specific but there's not really that much difference between resource compiler syntax these days.



Resource definition statements These define your resources within your resource script, there may be some very minor differences in syntax between resource compilers.

The only resource compiler specific tweak that springs to mind is for MinGW/Dev-Cpp: you need to #include windows.h in your resource script (*.rc file) to ensure that the compiler will recognise those resource definition statements. You may also have to #define IDC_STATIC -1, ie. for MinGW/Dev-Cpp resource scripts always start with:

Code:

#include <windows.h>
#if !defined IDC_STATIC
#define IDC_STATIC -1
#endif
#include "name_of_your_resource_defines_header.h"

thx for the info, that site has tons of good stuff on it. Will try to figure this out now .
Say I was going to add a resource. First I would add a *.rc file to my source file (*.cpp). Then I would make a header file(*.h) with the defines needed by the *.rc file. Then I would #include "resource.h" into my source file and add the code to the menu section inplace of null.
Is this right? Will read more into resources tonight. thx again
-Can some1 give an example of a resource that works with Dev C++, I tried the example off of Forgers again and it shows an erroe with the #include "resource.h" command. Has this happened 2 anyone else and what am I doing wrong?

-fire

Okay, first, you wouldn't add the *.rc to your *.cpp. In Dev C++. simply right clikc on your project in the dropdown list and selsct add to Project. Then add your *.rc. Then yes, you would make your resource.h and add it to your project and your *.rc.

As to your second question, I'll walk you through the making of a basic resource.

Always start out with windows.h and your definition of IDC_STATIC.

Code:

#include <windows.h>

#ifndef IDC_STATIC
#define IDC_STATIC -1
#endif

You could go into winuser.h and find the part of the code that defines IDC_STATIC and remove it from the if statement that keeps it from being defined. But unless you really
know what you're doing, you shouldn't mess with standard headers.

Now, here's a basic menu resource.

Code:

#include <windows.h>

#ifndef IDC_STATIC
#define IDC_STATIC -1
#endif

IDM_MENU MENU DISCARDABLE
BEGIN
  POPUP "&Test"
  BEGIN
    MENUITEM "&Click This",    IDM_TEST_CLICKTHIS
  END
END

Now that we've got the resource written, we need a header with definitions.

Code:

#ifndef RESOURCE_H  /*Not really necessary, but is good practice with headers.*/
#define RESOURCE_H /*Same as above.*/

#define IDM_MENU           0x1000
#define IDM_TEST_CLICKTHIS 0x1011

#endif

And, simply include them innyour source and your resource.

Code:

#include <windows.h>

#ifndef IDC_STATIC
#define IDC_STATIC -1
#endif

#include "resource.h"

IDM_MENU MENU DISCARDABLE
BEGIN
  POPUP "&Test"
  BEGIN
    MENUITEM "&Click This",    IDM_TEST_CLICKTHIS
  END
END

If you still get errors with that code, (assuming I didn't mess up ), then you've got real problems. If you still get errors on the #include "resource.h" line the you may have mispalced the file and it's not in your main directory.

If you still get a syntax error, then it could be a number of things. Have you ever actually opened up the windows.h file or any other headers? If so you might have accidentally made some minute change that's messing up your whole code.

For that menu, you shound't even need windows.h in your resource so you could try removing it. If that gets rid of your rescource errors, then there's a problem with the header itself. You could try reinstalling Dev C++ entirely.

will try it. If it don't work and I can't fix it I will just reload Dev. Sorta frustrating to do all this but learning a whole new language always is ...thx again

-fire

Well, if it doesn't work, just keep in mind that you aren't necessarily bad at programming. You're just incredibly unlucky.