How to add a resource file to a project?

[AceDawg45]

I am stuck. I am developing a window with a menu and I added a resource file, and the debugger says that resource.h (the header file[#include <resource.h>]) doesn't exist. Any help?

Code for *main.cpp:

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream>
#include "resource.rc"

const char g_szClassName[] = "myWindowClass";

HICON hMyIcon = LoadIcon(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDI_MYICON));

LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    switch(msg)
    {
        case WM_LBUTTONDOWN:
        {
            char szFileName[MAX_PATH];
            HINSTANCE hInstance = GetModuleHandle(NULL);

            GetModuleFileName(hInstance, szFileName, MAX_PATH);
            MessageBox(hwnd, szFileName, "This program is:", MB_OK | MB_ICONINFORMATION);
        }
        case WM_CLOSE:
            DestroyWindow(hwnd);
        break;
        case WM_DESTROY:
            PostQuitMessage(0);
        break;
        case WM_CREATE:
        {
            HMENU hMenu, hSubMenu;
            HICON hIcon, hIconSm;

            hMenu = CreateMenu();

            hSubMenu = CreatePopupMenu();
            AppendMenu(hSubMenu, MF_STRING, ID_FILE_EXIT, "E&xit");
            AppendMenu(hMenu, MF_STRING | MF_POPUP, (UINT)hSubMenu, "&File");

            hSubMenu = CreatePopupMenu();
            AppendMenu(hSubMenu, MF_STRING, ID_STUFF_GO, "&Go");
            AppendMenu(hMenu, MF_STRING | MF_POPUP, (UINT)hSubMenu, "&Stuff");

            SetMenu(hwnd, hMenu);


            hIcon = LoadImage(NULL, "menu_two.ico", IMAGE_ICON, 32, 32, LR_LOADFROMFILE);
            if(hIcon)
                SendMessage(hwnd, WM_SETICON, ICON_BIG, (LPARAM)hIcon);
            else
                MessageBox(hwnd, "Could not load large icon!", "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);

            hIconSm = LoadImage(NULL, "menu_two.ico", IMAGE_ICON, 16, 16, LR_LOADFROMFILE);
            if(hIconSm)
                SendMessage(hwnd, WM_SETICON, ICON_SMALL, (LPARAM)hIconSm);
            else
                MessageBox(hwnd, "Could not load small icon!", "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
            }
            break;
            default:
            return DefWindowProc(hwnd, msg, wParam, lParam);
    }
    return 0;
}

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
    LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow)
{
    WNDCLASSEX wc;
    HWND hwnd;
    MSG Msg;

    wc.cbSize        = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
    wc.style         = 0;
    wc.lpfnWndProc   = WndProc;
    wc.cbClsExtra    = 0;
    wc.cbWndExtra    = 0;
    wc.hInstance     = hInstance;
    wc.hIcon         = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION);
    wc.hIcon         = LoadIcon(GetModuleHandle(NULL), MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDI_MYICON));
    wc.hIconSm       = (HICON)LoadImage(GetModuleHandle(NULL), MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDI_MYICON), IMAGE_ICON, 16, 16, 0);
    wc.hCursor       = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
    wc.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)(COLOR_WINDOW+1);
    wc.lpszMenuName  = NULL;
    wc.lpszMenuName  = MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDR_MYMENU);
    wc.lpszClassName = g_szClassName;
    wc.hIconSm       = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION);

    if(!RegisterClassEx(&wc))
    {
        MessageBox(NULL, "Window Registration Failed!", "Error!",
            MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK);
        return 0;
    }

    hwnd = CreateWindowEx(
        WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
        g_szClassName,
        "The title of my window",
        WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,
        CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 240, 120,
        NULL, NULL, hInstance, NULL);

    if(hwnd == NULL)
    {
        MessageBox(NULL, "Window Creation Failed!", "Error!",
            MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK);
        return 0;
    }

    ShowWindow(hwnd, nCmdShow);
    UpdateWindow(hwnd);

    while(GetMessage(&Msg, NULL, 0, 0) > 0)
    {
        TranslateMessage(&Msg);
        DispatchMessage(&Msg);
    }
    return Msg.wParam;
}

Code for *resource.rc:

#include resource.h
#define IDI_MYICON 101
#define ID_FILE_EXIT    4001
#define IDR_MYMENU 101
#define IDI_MYICON 201
#define ID_FILE_EXIT 9001
#define ID_STUFF_GO 9002

IDR_MYMENU MENU
BEGIN
    POPUP "&File"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "E&xit", ID_FILE_EXIT
    END

    POPUP "&Stuff"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "&Go", ID_STUFF_GO
        MENUITEM "G&o somewhere else", 0, GRAYED
    END
END

IDI_MYICON ICON "menu_one.ico"

[TwilightSpectre]

In the include directives, include "resource.h" rather than "resource.rc". Also, you need a seperate file for your resource.h, and put your #define statements in that. Finally, you forgot the double quotation marks around resource.h in line 1 of resource.rc.

[AceDawg45]

Ok thanks but what do you mean by seperate file? Like, add an empty file? I am confused...

[TwilightSpectre]

You should have a main.cpp (as you do) which has the initialization for your window. Incidentally, there is no need to have two of the same member for WNDCLASSEX set, since they will overwrite anyway. Just have the one you want set. You also don't need to declare a menu within the main.cpp file (thats what the resource file is for). Just set the menu when creating the window, or use the SetMenu() command to change it mid-way through the program (using MAKEINTRESOURCE).

Anyway, back to your question. At the top of your "main.cpp", you should have this line, to include the DEFINITIONS for your menu:
#include "resource.h"

Then, in your resource.rc file, you should have this, to include the DEFINITIONS for your menu (again):

#include "resource.h"

IDR_MYMENU MENU
BEGIN
    //...
END

IDI_MYICON ICON "menu_one.ico"

Finally, you have your resource.h file (three files, seperate file). This should contain the definitions for your ID's that are being used, like so:

#ifndef __RESOURCE_H_INCLUDED__
#define __RESOURCE_H_INCLUDED__

#define IDI_MYICON      101
#define ID_FILE_EXIT    4001
#define IDR_MYMENU      101
#define IDI_MYICON      201
#define ID_FILE_EXIT    9001
#define ID_STUFF_GO     9002

#endif // __RESOURCE_H_INCLUDED__ 

Then, you compile the resource.rc file, compile the main.cpp file, and link them. You now have a working program with menus.

[AceDawg45]

Alright thanks. I got it. I love that feeling when you have been programming something for so long trying to get it to work and then finally, you fix it and you're all like "O MY GOD! YESSSS!!!!!!!!".

Or at least I feel that way...