Using the Dialog Editor

Dialog boxes are a common part of most Windows programs. They display information and prompt the user for information. A dialog box is a window with “controls.” Controls are interface items such as buttons, text boxes, and scroll bars.

A dialog box resource contains information about the size and location of the dialog box and the types and locations of its controls.

The Dialog Editor simplifies the process of creating dialog boxes by allowing you to draw the dialog boxes and their controls and then place them where you want them to appear. This eliminates the need for entering all the information by hand.

Follow these steps to use the Dialog Editor:

1.From the Tools menu, choose Dialog Editor. The Dialog Editor startup screen appears (see Figure 8.1).

2.From the Dialog Editor File menu, choose New.

3.Use the toolbox and menu commands to define the dialog and add controls to it.

4.From the File menu, choose Save.

5.Enter the filename and choose OK.

6.From the File menu, choose Exit to return to the Development Environment.

The Dialog Editor has many options and commands that are fully described in the Toolkit and online help.