Teach Yourself Borland C++ in 14 Days - portal

348 Day 9
NOTE
Lines 1 through 8 of Listing 9.4 illustrate how a string table looks in a resource script file.
Creating string tables is very easy with any text editor. On lines 10 and 11, a WAVE resource
is created for each of the two wave files, which were previously recorded and reside in the
project’s directory. When the resource compiler sees the WAVE declaration, it reads the
individual sound files and compiles them into the binary resource file.
As you can see from Listing 9.4, you can create some resources easily
with a text editor. If you have bitmaps or wave audio stored as external
files, you can include them in an .rc file as illustrated in Listing 9.4
and have them compiled into the binary resource file using the resource
compiler. Later, the binary resource file can be bound to your
application’s executable file.
Listing 9.4 is a partial listing. Bitmaps are contained in the resource file as numerical data.
The resource descriptions for bitmaps can get very long. The rest of the bitmap resource
descriptions for the Jumping Jack bitmaps require about 200 lines of resource code, so I
decided not to list them all. Figure 9.12 shows Jumping Jack in mid-stride.
Figure 9.12.
Jumping Jack in
action.
NOTE
Creating additional resources for your programs is not rocket science, but it is not exactly
trivial, either. It takes some time to realize how it all fits together. You may never need to add
additional resources to your applications. If you do, though, it’s good to have an idea where
to begin. If this section left you a little dazed and confused, don’t worry. Over time, it all starts
to make sense.
Bitmaps, icons, and cursors found in other programs are usually
copyrighted material. Do not use resources from any copyrighted
program without permission. Further, assume that all programs are
copyrighted unless they are specifically said to be freeware. You are free
to use the bitmaps, icons, and cursors that are provided with