C++ extern question

[Arjay]

I tend to agree with that logic in as much as I can encompass the whole of it.

The gist of this approach is:
1. Use TCHAR string forms throughout the app (e.g. LPCTSTR, LPTSTR, instead of char*)
2. Use the _T("") macro for hard coded string literals (e.g. _T("hard coded string") instead of "hard coded string").
3. Compile the app for the OS. For WinNt and above, use UNICODE
4. For any external data (both incoming and outgoing), create a conversion layer and convert any incoming/outgoing string data in one place.