Files and File Types

Most resource editors can create, import, export, or edit most resource files used by Windows, including executable files containing resources. A full list of standard resource types appears in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1: Standard (Predefined) Resource File Types

File Extension Type Description
.EXE Executable Executable program code containing application resources and compiled program code
.RES Resource Compiled (binary) resource file
.DLL Executable Executable (dynamic link library) module, which may contain either executable code, application resources, or both
.H Source code Header file containing symbolic names for defined resources
.ICO Resource Individual icon-image resource file
.CUR Resource Individual cursor-image resource file
.BMP Resource Individual bitmap-image file
.DLG Resource script Individual dialog box resource script containing a single dialog box in ASCII text format
.RC Resource script ASCII resource script containing one or more resource elements, which may include image resources in hexadecimal format
.DRV Device driver Compiled device driver, which may contain resource elements, dialog boxes, and so on
.FON Font library File containing one or more fonts belonging to a single typeface (not commonly used as a resource element)
.FNT Font typeface File containing a single typeface font
.DAT Resource Raw data resource, which is used for custom resource types (can be copied, renamed, or deleted but cannot be edited, browsed, or created using a resource editor)

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