What is the job of resource DLL in a project?

Resource DLL are those which contains recourse related to binary and no source code. Resource DLL can contain the followings

1. Accelerators
2. Bitmaps
3. Icons
4. Cursors
5. Menus
6. Dialogs
7. HTMLS
8. String Tables
9. Toolbars
10. Versions

Resource DLL can holds resources that can be shared between many applications and thus minimizes the size of each applications.

Resource DLLs are loaded using LoadLibrary() and the with MFC API AfxSetResourceHandle() we set the loaded resource DLL instance as our current resource instance. All the call of loading a resource line LoadIcon() etc. will now be loaded from the resource DLL.

Necessary MFC APIs:

• HINSTANCE AFXAPI AfxGetResourceHandle() - Returns the current loaded resource handle.
• void AFXAPI AfxSetResourceHandle(HINSTANCE hInstResource) - Sets the new resource handle for the MFC Application.

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Further readings

Where is WinMain() function in MFC application ?

MFC hides WinMain in its framework and includes source file on WinMain(). This explains how framework calls global CWinApp::Initinstance() from entry WinMain.

What is the utility of CWinApp class?

This is constructed during global C++ objects are constructed and is already available when Windows calls the WinMain function, which is supplied by the ...

Basic steps in Win32 GUI Application with source code.

Define a custom Window class structure, Register the class name, CreateWindow, Show windows and write message get and dispatch loop statements. Define the Window CallBack procedure and write the handlers.

What is a Window CallBack procedure and what is its utility?

DispatchMessage() is a API which indirectly triggers the Window CallBack procedure. Message structure members from this function are passed to the CallBack procedure. CallBack procedure should implement event handlers depending on the need of the application.

What are LPARAM and WPARAM in window proc function?

LPARAM and WPARAM are the two parameters in Window CallBack procedure. They signifies parameters of various events. They are used in handing individual events.

What are the basic steps of a typical MFC based application?

We need to write WinMain and need to follow all these in a Win32 application. However we need not to write much if we are writing an application with MFC ...

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