INFO: Only One .rc File Is Permitted Per Project (76714)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.5
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.51
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition 1.52
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 1.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.1
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.1
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.2
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 6.0
This article was previously published under Q76714

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Visual C++ development environment supports only one resource (.rc) file in each project. An attempt to add a second resource file to a project causes the environment to display an error.

In Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 through 1.52, and Microsoft Visual Workbench, 32-bit Edition, version 1.0:
You can only add one Resource Script. Would you like to replace the current script?
This message box includes buttons labeled "Yes" and "No."

In Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 2.x and later:
Multiple .rc files exist in the project. Only one can be marked as included in the build. The others will be excluded from the build.

MORE INFORMATION

To store resources in more than one file, create a master .rc file that uses the #include preprocessor directive to include resources from the other files. For example, consider the case in which the Rc1.rc and Rc2.rc files store resources for a project. Create a master .rc file called Proj.rc that contains the following text: 
   #include "Rc1.rc"
   #include "Rc2.rc"
This file instructs the resource file to compile all resources contained in the other .rc files into the application's resources while the project only contains one .rc file.

In Visual C++, versions 5.0 and 6.0, use the following steps to include other resource files into one main resource script:

  1. On the View menu, click Resource Includes.
  2. In the Resource Includes dialog box, click inside the Compile-Time Directives list.
  3. Type #include statements at the end of this list in the format of the previous example.

REFERENCES

Visual C++ Technical Note 35: "Using Multiple Resource Files and Header Files with Visual C++"
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/12/2003
Keywords:kbide kbinfo KB76714
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.