Building a Windows Application

To build a Windows application, follow these steps:

1.Create C-language source files (or assembly-language source files) that contain the WinMain function, window functions, and other application code.

2.Use the resource editors (the Image Editor and the Dialog Editor) to create any cursor, icon, bitmap, and dialog resources the application will need.

3.Create a resource script (.RC) file that defines all the application's resources. The resource script file lists and names the resources you created in the preceding step. It also defines menus, dialog boxes, and other resources.

4.Create the module-definition (.DEF) file, which defines the attributes of the application modules, such as segment attributes, stack size, and heap size.

5.Build the C-language sources (or assemble all assembly-language sources).

NOTE:

The Resource Compiler automatically compiles the resource script file and adds it to the executable file when you build the program in Step 5.

If you use QuickCase:W to help write your program, you would eliminate Step 1, use QuickCase:W in place of Step 3, and skip Step 4.

Figure 13.5 shows the steps required to build a Windows application.