Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++ 2012

CREATING MFC APPLICATIONS

You use four primary tools in the development of your MFC-based Windows programs:

1. An Application Wizard for creating the basic application program code when you start. You use an Application Wizard whenever you create a project.

2. The project context menu in Class View enables you to add new classes and resources to a project. You display this menu by right-clicking the project name in the Class View pane and using the Add/Class menu item to add a new class. Resources are composed of non-executable data such as bitmaps, icons, menus, and dialog boxes. The Add/Resource menu item from the same menu helps you to add a new resource.

3. The class context menu in Class View enables you to extend and customize classes in your program. You use the Add/Add Function and Add/Add Variable menu items to do this.

4. You use a Resource Editor for creating or modifying resources such as menus and toolbars.

There are several resource editors; the one you use in any particular situation depends on the kind of resource that you’re editing. You’ll look at editing resources in the next chapter, but for now, let’s jump in and create an MFC application.

Creating an MFC application is just as straightforward as creating a console program; there are just a few more choices along the way. As you have already seen, you start by creating a new project by selecting the File ⇒ New ⇒ Project menu item, or you can use the shortcut and press Ctrl+Shift+N. The New Project dialog ...