BRC32, the Resource Shell

The Borland resource compiler (BRC32) is a resource compiler shell. It invokes BRCC32 and RLINK32, depending on the command-line syntax.

Command Line Syntax

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

To display command line help, enter:

brc32

Command Line Options

Option	Description
-d<name> [=string]	Defines a symbol you can test with the #IFDEF preprocessor directive.
-fo<filename>	Renames the .RES file.
-fe<filename>	Renames the .EXE file.
-i<path>	Adds one or more directories (separated by semicolons) to the include search path.
-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	Creates a .RES file only. The compiled .RES file is not added to the .EXE.
-v	Prints progress messages (verbose listing).
-x	Directs the compiler to ignore the INCLUDE environment variable when it searches for include or resource files.
-16	Builds 16–bit .RES files.
-32	Builds 32–bit .RES files.
-Vd.d	Makes the .EXE file with Windows version provided (v3.1 is the default for 16-bit resources; -v4.0 is the default for 32-bit resources). Version options are listed in the following table.

Version Options (Used with —Vd.d Option)

Option	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	Creates an application that runs only in protected mode (Windows Standard or 386 Enhanced mode).
-31	Builds Windows 3.1-compatible .RES files.
-w32	Builds Win32-compatible .RES 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, BRC 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