### Resource Compiler - Syntax (Windows)

IRC is the Windows version of the resource compiler. It accepts a resource script file (.rc) as input and produces a resource object file (.res) as output. IRC uses the following command line syntax:

    irc [options] filename.rc

The following is a summary of IRC options. Note that options are not case-sensitive that is, -v is the same as -V.

Option | Description
--- | ---
-dname[=string] | Defines a preprocessor symbol
-fofilename | Renames the output .res file. (By default, IRC creates the output .res file with the same name as the input .rc file.)
-ipath | Adds one or more directories (separated by semicolons) to the include search path.
-v | Prints progress messages (verbose)
-x | Deletes the current include path
-? or -h | Displays switch help
-kcodepage | Specifies the codepage to use. For example,
    irc -k085 mymess.rc
The codepage to use is 085.

IRC predefines common resource-related Windows constants, such as WS_VISIBLE and BS_PUSHBUTTON. Also, one special compiler-related symbol is defined: RC_INVOKED. This symbol can be used in the source text in conjunction with conditional preprocessor statements to control compilation. For example, the following construct can greatly speed up compilation:

    #ifndef RC_INVOKED
    #include "windows.h"
    #endif

The following example adds two directories to the include path and produces a .res file with the same name as the input .rc file.

    irc -idir1;dir2 filename.rc

The example produces an output .res file with a name different from the input .rc file name:

    irc -fofilename.res filename.rc

Resource Compiler - An Overview
Resource Compiler - An Overview