How do I give my program an icon?

Hello, all!


How do I give my program an icon?

I don't want a .jpg picture in my program folder. How do I code it into the program?


Cheers,
realchamp.

What kind of program do you have? Runs on Windows, Linux? Is it console, is it window app?

i also have this question. Im running xcode on a mac, writing a standard c++ program.

My program is a console application based on C++. It's for Windows.

Add (insert) an icon as a resource to your project.

... or after building the executable, you can use a program like exescope:
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA003525/emysoft.htm#6
There are a lot of these... if especially this one is licensed or doesn't work for you.

You should also refer to your compiler. For example in Dev-C++ you could add an icon via Project options.

I've trying alot to get it work. I can by now add it as a ressource.

However, to get it work. What code do I need to use? I've using google for 3 hours now. It seems to make no sence now. I hope you can help me!

Thanks,
- realchamp.

Here:

Code:

---

1 ICON "icon.ico"

---

Save this as .rc file
You can compile this using windres

Code:

---

windres -i resource.rc -o resource.o

---

Then compile it with your main .cpp file

Code:

---

g++ resource.o main.cpp -o main

---

If you are using an IDE, just include your .rc file in your project.

Ahh I got that. Thank you, I will just try it.

EIDT: The IDE is that for a console application for Windows?


That resource.rc, how do I exactly create that? Or is that the file I "extra" included?


EDIT: The "windres" doesn't work.

I did:

Code:

---

C:/Plugins/srcds/icon windres -i resource.rc -o resource.o

---

Unknown command "windres"

Okay, I tryed to include it (#include <resource.rc>)

I get this error:

Code:

---

syntax error "constant"

---

Hello realchamp

You don't need to include your resource file.

To mannually add the icon, (and probablly the easiest way)
just open up your favorite editor (or notepad) and save it with the .rc extension.
And do what richard_tominez showed you.
He put the constant for simplicity, (and used in only one place)
but you'd normally want to use macro

Code:

---

IDI_MY_ICON DISCARDABLE "icon.ico"

---

and make sure to define IDI_MY_ICON somewhere in your program.

hope this helps~

Okay, I will just try that. Thank you, PotatoCode :)

But where do I have to save my resource.rc?

Right now I have in the same folder as my main(.cpp) program is in.

Okay I got the

Code:

---

#define IDI_MY_ICON

---

In my program, just after the headers.

Now what do I do with?:

Code:

---

DI_MY_ICON DISCARDABLE "icon.ico"

---

Do I simply just put that in my source code somewhere after int main() { ?


EDIT: I did that, new errors:

Code:

---

DISCARDABLE : not a command.... blablabla...

---

Okay,

You forgot the ICON inbetween.
DISCARDABLE is optional and not required.

why don't you try this?

1. Open up a new console project.

2. Add/Create a blank file

3. In this new file type

Code:

---

1 ICON "icon.ico"

---

4. Save this file as myresource.rc in the root directory of the project

5. Check your project manager to see the newly added myresource.rc

6. Build and run

7. check your exe to see if the icon has been added.

edit:
Just in case, you want to replace icon.ico with the actual file name of your icon.
To create your own icon,
you can download icon plug-ins for photoshop. (google it) :)

I will try that, thank you so much!

But at 1.; Do I have to create a new .cpp file? And then in the solution explorer, I add the .rc file?

Or just create a blank .rc file with notepad and add 3. into it?

I don't use the "project" stuff.

I just use "New File" and then I set it to .cpp and then I start coding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

Or just create a blank .rc file with notepad and add 3. into it?

---

Sure you can do that.
A resource file is just a text file with .rc extension.
VC++ 2008 express edition doesn't have a resource editor,
but that doesn't mean you can manage your resources :)

in all, you need a total of three files.
1. whatever.cpp
2. whateverName.rc
3. whateverIcon.ico

unless you can follow richard_tominez's answer on how to manually bind the resource file
to the exe file,
your best chance is to let your project manager (or solution manager) to do the job.

Quote:

---

I don't use the "project" stuff.

---

Hehe, you might want to start using it because you will eventually need it. ;)
For example, NetBeans (another cool IDE) PM checks code file dependancy by refactoring,
something you can definitely appreciate.

Okay... I tryed both ways. The one of them gave me 78 errors. (Using the project).

I tryed the one with compiling, just getting unknown command "windres".

I wanna use the windres.

However with this in my code:

Code:

---

#define MY_ICON

using namespace std;

int main()
{       
        MY_ICON ICON "icon.ico";

        bool quit = false;
    while (! quit)
        {

---

And this in my icon.rc:

Code:

---

ICON "icon.ico"

---

Both my icon.ico and .rc are in the same folder as my main .cpp is.
However when I use the 1 you both set, I get errors. Without it, no errors at all. But the ICON didn't work on my program.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

Both my icon.ico and .rc are in the same folder as my main .cpp is.

---

Great, stay on this track. :)
this is how the rest of the files might look like
main.cpp

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    std::cout << "Hello world!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

---

myresource.rc

Code:

---

101 ICON "icon.ico"

---

Build your project all together.

Let me know how it goes

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by potatoCode

Build your project all together.

---

What do you exactly mean? Also, when I don't try to add any "icon" stuff, the program doesn't give me errors or so.

Also if you would like to, I can give you TeamViewer 4 access. Then you can see it with your own eyes.

Or we can just chat over MSN or Steam.

Only if you want.

(I hope I didn't break any forum rules there?)

I think we can still solve your problem here.
(and for those who might need the same help later on)

you followed everything I told you but it still didn't work?
Hm, that's odd.

What IDE are you using?

Okay, that's fine.

However, I'm not sure what you mean about "IDE?".. I haven't found out of what that is yet. Only guessing.

windres is one of the utilities of Mingw package.
To compile your .rc file in command-line using cmd shell:

Code:

---

c:\mingw\bin> windres -i c:\resource.rc -o c:\resource.o

---

where:
c:\mingw\bin> is the directory where windres is
windres is the program itself
c:\resource.rc is the input file in C:\ directory
c:\resource.o is the outpuit file in C:\ directory

The commands I gave previously are for MSYS.

Ohh okay.

Is the folder on my c drive a standard one? (mingw?) Or do I have to DL something?

Okay, I tryed setting it up as you created it. It works. But I don't have any resource.o file.

I ran it in a batch script.

Code:

---

c:\mingw\bin> windres -i c:\Plugins\srcds\resource.rc -o c:\Plugins\srcds\resource.o

---

Didn't work. I'm getting invalid directory or no files. Even though my files are in that directory.
(It wouldn't let me save it into c:\srcds.

However I get a new file: windres. But it's a empty and it's only a "file" (none of these .dll, .exe, .bat extensions)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

However, I'm not sure what you mean about "IDE?".. I haven't found out of what that is yet. Only guessing.

---

Rather than ask in each your post just use google. The first link does explain it. :cool:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...,GGLJ:en&q=ide

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VictorN

Rather than ask in each your post just use google. The first link does explain it. :cool:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...,GGLJ:en&q=ide

---

- Sorry.

I just completely forgot about Google :P

Thanks :)

ps. Anyone there can help me with this?

[QUOTE=realchamp;1825171ps. Anyone there can help me with this?[/QUOTE]Help you with what?
What is the current state of your problem?
What IDE (VC++ 6,0, VS2002/2003/2005/2008, ...) are you using?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

Also, when I don't try to add any "icon" stuff, the program doesn't give me errors or so.

---

You're not... you didn't do anything like change "myicon.gif" to "myicon.ico"... did you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by potatoCode

You're not... you didn't do anything like change "myicon.gif" to "myicon.ico"... did you?

---

I didn't create the .ico.

I think he compilied it, using a template for Adobe Photoshop.
(#define "he" a freind.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VictorN

Help you with what?
What is the current state of your problem?
What IDE (VC++ 6,0, VS2002/2003/2005/2008, ...) are you using?

---

I use VC++ 2008 Express Edition.

My current state is that I can't get an icon on my program. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

I use VC++ 2008 Express Edition.

My current state is that I can't get an icon on my program. :(

---

What have you already tried to do to add an icon?

Try it again. I should also noted that c:\mingw\bin> is the working directory.
1. Run cmd from the start menu
2. Change the current directory in the bin folder in your mingw installation

Code:

---

cd c:\mingw\bin

---

3. Run windres like this:

Code:

---

windres -i c:\resource.rc -o c:\resource.o

---

If still doesn't work, I suggest, you pray to St. Anthony of Padua that you may found the answer.

Well thanks, once agian richard_tominez.

But, when I do that. The cd c:\mingw\bin

Gives me an invalid directory. Like it doesn't exits. However I can't see it either. (When I open up my C folder)

I'm on Windows Vista 32BIT: Home Premium, if that should do any different.'

EDIT: I used google, now I'm downloading that mingw. :)

Okay, now I got it installed. It doesn't say unknow command anymore.

But when I try to compile it, I get these errors:

Code:

---

C:\Plugins\srcds>cd c:\mingw\bin

c:\MinGW\bin>windres -i C:\Plugins\srcds\resource.rc -o C:\Plugins\srcds\resourc
e.o
C:\Plugins\srcds\resource.rc:1:24: warning: no newline at end of file
windres: can't open icon file `resource.ico': No such file or directory

c:\MinGW\bin>pause

---

In my C:\Plugins\srcds\ folder I have these files:
resource.ico
resource.rc with this data:

Code:

---

101 ICON "resource.ico"

---

resource.bat with this data:

Code:

---

cd c:\mingw\bin
windres -i C:\Plugins\srcds\resource.rc -o C:\Plugins\srcds\resource.o
pause

---

And I do also have my main program.


EDIT:

Now I got the resource.o file.

Code:

---

C:\Plugins\srcds>cd c:/mingw/bin

c:\MinGW\bin>g++ resource.o c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp -o main

c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp: In function `int main()':
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:88: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared at
 ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:88: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared at
 ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:213: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared a
t ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:213: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared a
t ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:223:2: warning: no newline at end of file

c:\MinGW\bin>pause

---

Why now this? :(

Please someone help me!

I compiled my srcds_beta.cpp in VC++ 2008: Express Edition.

I didn't get any errors.

And now this:

Code:

---


C:\Plugins\srcds>cd c:/mingw/bin

c:\MinGW\bin>g++ resource.o c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp -o c:\Plugin\srcds\s
rcds_beta.exe
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp: In function `int main()':
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:88: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared at
 ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:88: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared at
 ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:213: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared a
t ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:213: warning: `_sleep' is deprecated (declared a
t ../lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.5/../../../../include/stdlib.h:404)
c:/Plugins/srcds/srcds_beta.cpp:223:2: warning: no newline at end of file
..\lib\gcc\mingw32\3.4.5\..\..\..\..\mingw32\bin\ld.exe: cannot open output file
 c:\Plugin\srcds\srcds_beta.exe: No such file or directory
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status

c:\MinGW\bin>pause

---

Someone please help. I wanna get this to work! :)

Hehe, tell me if you need more information!

_sleep function is obsolete. Try including windows.h to use Sleep function as a replacement to it.

I already included it. :(

When I run my own program in VC++ 2008: Express Version, it works perfect. No errors at all! (with _sleep(2000))

Here's my headers:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <cstring>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>
#include <direct.h>
#include <Windows.h>
#include <WinBase.h>

---

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <cstring>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>
#include <direct.h>
#include <Windows.h>
#include <WinBase.h>

---

Windows.h is different from windows.h.
Anyways, your problem is how to give your program an icon. The important matter is you know the steps to give your program an icon. Create a simple Hello World program with your resource.o and see what you got.

Now my program doesn't know "cout".

Here's my code:

Code:

---

// hello_world.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
        cout << "Hello World!";
}

---

And error:

Code:

---

1>------ Build started: Project: hello_world, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
1>Compiling...
1>hello_world.cpp
1>c:\plugins\srcds\beta\hello_world\hello_world\hello_world.cpp(9) : error C2065: 'cout' : undeclared identifier
1>Build log was saved at "file://c:\Plugins\srcds\beta\hello_world\hello_world\Debug\BuildLog.htm"
1>hello_world - 1 error(s), 0 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

---

I included the <iostream> in the main file. Didn't work.

I also added the resource.o to resources.

It said "unknown rules" - I just ran throught and it worked.(I hope)

cout is a member of the std namespace. To use it:

Code:

---

std::cout << "Hello World!";

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by richard_tominez

cout is a member of the std namespace. To use it:

Code:

---

std::cout << "Hello World!";

---

---

Ohh well I forgot the:

Code:

---

using namespace std;

---

Thanks alot! I'm going to try it and give you a feedback!

- realchamp.

Hello, it works! No errors on compiling.

However when I use the project manager I don't get any .exe file? :/

So I can't really check if it works :(

No errors on compiling? How about on linking?

What do you mean by "linking?"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

What do you mean by "linking?"

---

Don't you know what "linking" (or Link) is? :confused:
Very bad! :eek: :thumbd:
Can't you use Internet search? :confused:
Well, checking out some of these sites will be a good start for you:
http://www.google.de/search?hl=en&rl...nk&btnG=Search

I know what a "link" is.

Like a link to Google.

But I don't understand what he means with "on linking?"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by realchamp

I know what a "link" is.

Like a link to Google.

But I don't understand what he means with "on linking?"

---

Building an executable is done in two steps.

Compiling takes your source code and converts it into low level instructions for the computer. Those are your object .obj files.

The linker takes your .obj and library files and converts them into the executable file.

Your program may compile but not link.

Ahh..

Would this "link" my program?:

I use Microsoft Visual Studio 2008: Express Editon.

And I use cl -EHsc srcds_beta.cpp for compiling.

Output:

srcds_beta.exe
srcds_beta.obj