Is it possible to write dialog boxes 'on the fly'

[Dark Byte]

Can I create a dialog box without a resource file? I am using VC++ Express so I can't edit resource files.

[filipe]

You can write the resource files by hand (it's not that hard) and compile them with rc.exe. Or you can create them dynamically, but you'd have to search MSDN because each resource requires different functions and structures.

[Dark Byte]

Where can I download rc.exe. I searched some but can not find it. Dev-Cpp compiled one of my resource file, but it won't compile the one I have for dialog boxes. Here is the code (I am following a tutorial www.winprog.org)

IDD_ABOUT DIALOG DISCARDABLE  0, 0, 239, 66
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
CAPTION "My About Box"
FONT 8, "MS Sans Serif"
BEGIN
    DEFPUSHBUTTON   "&OK",IDOK,174,18,50,14
    PUSHBUTTON      "&Cancel",IDCANCEL,174,35,50,14
    GROUPBOX        "About this program...",IDC_STATIC,7,7,225,52
    CTEXT           "An example program showing how to use Dialog Boxes\r\n\r\nby theForger",
                    IDC_STATIC,16,18,144,33
END

[freddie1]

You'll find everything you need here...

http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread245377.html

In your \bin folder of the Dev-C++ installation is windres.exe. That can be used also at the command line to convert *.rc files to *.obj files (I think. I'd have to double check on that ).

[filipe]

Dev-C++ is outdated. If you have VC++ Express installed, you have rc.exe. You can access it through VC++ Express' command prompt. You need to compile .rc files into .res files, then add them to your project.

[Dark Byte]

How to find and use rc.exe?

[filipe]

As I said, it can be found through VC++ Express' command prompt. In VC++ Express 2010, it's under Tools, Visual Studio Command Prompt. Just type rc /? to get the command line options.

[freddie1]

filipe is pretty much right about Dev-C++. It worked OK if you managed to get a good installation. But sometimes it just won't work right. If I were you I'd go with either VC Express or CodeBlocks. I actually prefer CodeBlocks.

If you spent some time following my link above though, you would figure out your problems.

On any Microsoft C++ installation you'll find rc.exe in the \bin directory of the C/C++ installation. If you open a command prompt window and type rc /? you'll get help on it.