BRC32.EXE, the Resource Shell

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BRC32.EXE is the command-line resource compiler shell. It invokes BRCC32 (Resource Compiler) and RLINK32 (Resource Linker), depending on the command-line syntax.

Command-Line Syntax

brc32 [<options>] <filename>.RC [<filename>.EXE]

Command-Line Elements

Element	Description
<options>	Command-line options. They are optional.
<filename>.RC	Defines a resource script file (.RC) to be compiled. This file should be specified.
<filename>.EXE	Defines the name for the output executable .EXE file. Optional.

To display command-line help, enter:

brc32

or add the help flag:

brc32 -h

Command-Line Options

BRC32.EXE supports the command-line options listed in the following table:

BRC32 Command-Line Options

Option	Description
-h or /h	Shows the help message.
-d<name>[=string]	Defines the name preprocessor symbol, which you can test with the #IFDEF name C++ preprocessor directive.
-fo<filename>	Defines the <filename> name for the output resource .RES file. (By default, BRC32 creates the output .RES file with the same name as the input .RC file.)
-fe<filename>	Defines the <filename> name for the output executable .EXE file.
-i<path>	Adds one or more directories (path separated by semicolons) to the include search path. For example: -i"C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\21.0\lib\debug";C:\MyUnits
-k	Disables the contiguous preload of segments and resources in the .EXE file. Segments are kept in the order in which they appear in the .DEF file. (This option only applies to 16-bit resources and is disabled when the -r option is in effect.)
-r	Only compiles resources and creates a .RES file. Does not bind the compiled resources to the executable .EXE file.
-v	Prints progress messages (verbose listing).
-x	Directs the compiler to ignore the INCLUDE environment variable when it searches for include or resource files.
-32	Builds 32-bit Windows-compatible .RES and .EXE files. This is the default option.
-16	Builds 16-bit Windows-compatible .RES files.
-V<n.m>	Makes the .EXE file with the Windows version provided (4.0 is the default). Version options are listed in the following table:

Version Options (Used with -V<n.m> Option)

n.m Value	Bit	Resulting Look
3.1	16	Gives white background with a non 3-D look for Windows 3.1x, Windows 32s, or WinNT 3.1.
4.0	16	Gives gray 3-D look for Windows 95 and WinNT 3.51.
3.1	32	Gives white background with a non 3-D look for Windows 32s or WinNT 3.1.
4.0	32	Gives gray 3-D look for Windows 95 and WinNT 3.51.

Options for Downward Compatibility

Option	Description
-t	Ignored.
-31	Builds Windows 3.1-compatible .RES files.
-w32	Builds Win32-compatible .RES and .EXE files.

Resource Shell Examples

The following statement compiles the .RC file, creates a .RES file, and adds the .RES file to the executable file:

brc32 <filename>.RC <filename>.EXE

BRC32 automatically seeks an .EXE file with the same name as the .RC file. You need to specify the .EXE file only if its name is different from that of the .RC file.

The following statement creates a .RES file, but not an .EXE file. If you name an .EXE file in the command line, BRC32 ignores it:

brc32 -r <filename>.EXE

The following statement adds an existing .RES file to an executable file. The .EXE file name is required only if it differs from the .RES file name:

brc32 <filename>.RES <filename>.EXE

This example uses BRC32 to build a 16-bit Windows 3.1-compatible .RES file:

brc32 -16 -V3.1 -fo<filename>.RES <filename>.RC

See Also

• RLINK32.DLL, the Resource Linker (C++)
• BRCC32.EXE, the Resource Compiler