### Resource Compiler - An Overview (Windows)

This section describes the following resource tools:

- irc.exe is the resource compiler. It is used to compile resource script files (.rc) files and produce a binary .res file.
- ilink.exe is the IBM C and C++ Compilers linker which is used to bind resources, in .res file form, to an .exe file and marks the resulting .exe file as a Windows executable.

Programs that run on Windows operating system provide a familiar and standard user interface for all applications. The components of the user interface are known as resources, and can include:

Accelerator keys | Fonts | String Tables
Bitmaps | Help Tables | User-defined data
Cursors | Icons | Version Information
Dialog Boxes | Menus |

Resources are defined external to your source code, and then attached to the executable file during linking. The application calls resources into memory only when needed, thus minimizing memory usage.

Resource script files (.rc) are text files that describe the resources a particular application uses. These script files are composed of resource statements that define the type, identifier, and data for each resource. A list of valid resource statements can be found in the RSL.HLP file.

The resource compiler (irc.exe) uses the .rc file to compile the resources into a binary format resource (.res) file. ILINK then attaches the .res file, which contains your resources, to your executable.

Resource Compiler - Syntax
Resource Compiler - Syntax
Resource Compiler - An Overview