4.8 String Table Resources

These tables are constructed in blocks of 16 strings. The organization of these blocks of 16 is determined by the IDs given to the various strings. The lowest four bits of the ID determine a string's position in the block. The upper twelve bits determine which block the string is in. Each block of 16 strings is stored as one resource entry. Each string or error table resource block is stored as follows:

[Normal resource header (type = 6 for strings)]

[Block of 16 strings. The strings are Pascal style with a WORD length preceding the string. 16 strings are always written, even if not all slots are full. Any slots in the block with no string have a zero WORD for the length.]

It is important to note that the various blocks need not be written out in numerical order in the resource file. Each block is assigned an ordinal ID. This ID is the high 12 bits of the string IDs in the block plus one (ordinal IDs can't be zero). The blocks are written to the .RES file in the order the blocks are encountered in the .RC file, while the CVTRES utility will cause them to become ordered in the COFF object, and hence the image file.