Copying Resource Elements

To duplicate a resource—for example, to use as the basis for creating a different version of the resource—select the resource to duplicate, and then use the Copy and Paste options on the Edit menu. A new resource identifier will be created for the duplicated resource.

The Insert menu also has a Resource Copy option; however, this option creates a copy of a resource element that is used only when a special condition is defined, or it creates a copy in a second language.

Managing Project Resources in the Borland C++ Builder

The Borland C++ Builder has adopted a quite different development approach from previous versions of the compiler (and other compilers), treating projects as containers for one or more applications (presumably associated), while treating applications as constructs largely built from standard components. This approach is similar to Delphi and Visual Basic application design.

The File menu offers options for creating or opening applications, application element files, and projects. Once a project is opened (or created), instead of a resource script, you will find yourself working with “forms,” where each form is associated with a separate source file.

Borland’s C++ Builder also offers a resource editor, but it is difficult to use with conventional C++ or MFC-based C++ application designs. This is because of the development approach taken by the C++ Builder, with its form-centric design and almost total dependence on predefined Borland classes and component-based programming.

As you learned in this chapter, application resources and resource editors can simplify your application development work. The individual resource types and editors are discussed in the following chapters. You’ll also find explanations of how each type is used to create the resources for the FileView1 and FileView2 demos discussed in Chapter 12.

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