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The really odd thing about command line argument handling is that MFC itself uses __argc and __argv to parse its arguments but gives it to apps as one single string. It makes no sense at all to me. Any app can include stdlib.h and access each individual argument if it wants to.
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Hi all,
I am a Visual C++ Developer using V6.0. Mostly I deal with MFC creating windows application.
What are your opinions about me upgrading to Visual C++.Net 2005? It seems to be quite different from V6.0 from what I see. If I develop applications using MFC in .Net 2005, are there any issues that I should watch out for?
What about manage and unmanaged code and the .Net framework? When I distribute my software, do I need to distribute the .Net framework for older OS such as Win98?
Please give me your comments.
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desmondling78 wrote:
If I develop applications using MFC in .Net 2005, are there any issues that I should watch out for?
Yeah, lots.
1. VC6 is TERRIBLE at standards conformace. You've missed two iterations, there is a lot of stuff that used to compile and now will not, due to being non-conformant. How well do you know/code to the C++ standard ? One obvious example is this
for (int i = 0; i != 6; ++i)
{
}
int x = i;
According to the standard, this code should fail, i is not visible outside the scope of the loop. VC6 will accept it.
2. MFC has changed a bit in the years between as well, but all for the better as far as I can tell, and not too much ( the focus is on C#/Winforms IMO ).
desmondling78 wrote:
What about manage and unmanaged code and the .Net framework? When I distribute my software, do I need to distribute the .Net framework for older OS such as Win98?
No, C++ is the only language that you can use the .NET compiler for and not require the runtime. You can choose to use/require it if you want to, but you don't have to.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
How well do you know/code to the C++ standard ?
Well, I do a fair bit of development in C++. I suppose I would rate myself an average developer? Currently, I'm learning VB.Net including ASP.Net. And I have a basic understanding on .Net framework. (.Net's Quite cool actually!) For the example you gave, luckily I don't do that. (Phew). Since .Net has changed a lot, where do you think I should start so as to get myself up-to-date?
No, C++ is the only language that you can use the .NET compiler for and not require the runtime. You can choose to use/require it if you want to, but you don't have to.
I'm a little bit confused. Because there are people telling me this:
If I develop an application that uses the .Net framework (such as the Systems namespace), then I need to ensure Win98 has the .Net framework installed before it will run. is that right?
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desmondling78 wrote:
Well, I do a fair bit of development in C++. I suppose I would rate myself an average developer?
Sure - the best thing to do is get a copy of the beta and see if your code compiles. If you've learned from reading books, you should be fine. If you've learned by seeing what the compiler accepts, you could be in trouble.
One other bit of good news, if you use the STL, the STL that comes with .NET is a world away from the VC6 one, the VC6 one is crap.
desmondling78 wrote:
Currently, I'm learning VB.Net including ASP.Net
Why not C#, given that you have a C++ background ? VB.NET syntax is really hard to get used to, compared to C#, if your background is in programming ( that is, C++ rather than VB6 ).
desmondling78 wrote:
Since .Net has changed a lot, where do you think I should start so as to get myself up-to-date?
Well, you don't need .Net to do C++, in fact you can't have it if you don't want to depend on the framework. If you're asking from the ASP.NET angle, I'd say still buy some good ASP.NET 1.1 books, then read on 2.0 later, because not so much has changed, stuff has been added.
And one other thing - C# 2.0 has some really cool features like templates, iterators, and anonymous methods. I don't know if VB.NET gets any of that, yet.
desmondling78 wrote:
I'm a little bit confused. Because there are people telling me this:
If I develop an application that uses the .Net framework (such as the Systems namespace), then I need to ensure Win98 has the .Net framework installed before it will run. is that right?
Absolutely, and in a lot of ways, obviously. ANY OS right now does not come with the framework preinstalled. The thing is, C++ is the only place where you CHOOSE to use the .NET framework, C# and VB.NET cannot live without it. So you will KNOWINGLY make your app rely on .NET ( the MFC app, this is ), but you can also choose not to add this dependancy.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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One other bit of good news, if you use the STL, the STL that comes with .NET is a world away from the VC6 one, the VC6 one is crap.
Really? Then I have to check it out. Cos STL is a really useful tool.
Why not C#, given that you have a C++ background ? VB.NET syntax is really hard to get used to, compared to C#, if your background is in programming ( that is, C++ rather than VB6 ).
Well, people have been asking me that question. Reason is for market value. There seems to be less work for vc++. Also, I wish to move to web applications. and VB.Net seems to be the way to go. But like you said it takes time to get used to VB syntax (and frankly i prefer C++ syntax).
So you will KNOWINGLY make your app rely on .NET
I see. Just one more last question then. The main reason for using Managed code is that it helps us handle garbage collection right? And that is provided by the .Net framework?
Oh and one more question. When Visual C++.Net 2005 is released, will Microsoft still sell Visual C++.Net 2003? I am deciding on which to buy, but I wish to wait for the release of Visual C++.Net 2005. (I heard from some Microsoft Spokes person that it is slated for July~Aug released.) I'm just afraid by then, will they stop selling .Net 2003 (as is threatened by my suppliers).
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desmondling78 wrote:
Really? Then I have to check it out. Cos STL is a really useful tool.
It's THE reason to upgrade IMO. In Microsoft's defence, the STL in VC6 was sold to them by Dinkumware, they were bound to it by contract. Dinkum knew all about their STL bugs, they went on to make money selling a replacement STL, which in effect meant you paid for the bugfixes on what they sold to Microsoft.
desmondling78 wrote:
Well, people have been asking me that question. Reason is for market value. There seems to be less work for vc++. Also, I wish to move to web applications. and VB.Net seems to be the way to go. But like you said it takes time to get used to VB syntax (and frankly i prefer C++ syntax).
No, I'm asking why you don't write ASP.NET apps in C# instead of VB.NET, because the C# syntax is easier for a C++ programmer, because C#2.0 has compelling features for a C++ programmer, and because VB.NET is full of really crappy legacy stuff.
desmondling78 wrote:
I see. Just one more last question then. The main reason for using Managed code is that it helps us handle garbage collection right? And that is provided by the .Net framework?
IMO the main reaons to use managed C++ are if you want to provide a bridge between C# and C++, or because you want access to stuff in the class libraries, for example, regular expressions. Garbage collection is worth nothing to me.
desmondling78 wrote:
When Visual C++.Net 2005 is released, will Microsoft still sell Visual C++.Net 2003?
I doubt it very much.
desmondling78 wrote:
I am deciding on which to buy, but I wish to wait for the release of Visual C++.Net 2005.
It's out in November. If you're going to do ASP.NET, go for 2005, definately. ASP.NET 2.0 has heaps of cool new stuff, and in addition, C# 2.0 has a lot of compelling features that should make you seriously reconsider VB.NET. Amongst them is the fact that ASP.NET apps can have pages written in both, so if you have to work on a crappy VB.NET project ( I say this because every VB.NET project I've been called in on was poorly written crap ), you can still write C# pages for it, if you want to.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Garbage collection is worth nothing to me.
haha its funny you said that. I thought its quite a useful thing considering we need not worry about memory leaks.
No, I'm asking why you don't write ASP.NET apps in C# instead of VB.NET, because the C# syntax is easier for a C++ programmer, because C#2.0 has compelling features for a C++ programmer, and because VB.NET is full of really crappy legacy stuff.
Ohh. Because I wish to pick up VB.Net as well. I suppose I can learn C# on my own time and it will be easier since I know C++. The main reason is I wish to be all-rounder...hoping to jack up my value! hah
What are the improved features of Visual C++.Net 2005 compared to Visual C++.Net 2003 anyway?
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desmondling78 wrote:
haha its funny you said that. I thought its quite a useful thing considering we need not worry about memory leaks.
It's a nice story, but it's not true. If you allocate large objects, you still need to clean up after them, or they will linger for ages.
desmondling78 wrote:
Ohh. Because I wish to pick up VB.Net as well.
Fair enough. Personally, I'd rather hammer nails into my head, but to each his own 
desmondling78 wrote:
What are the improved features of Visual C++.Net 2005 compared to Visual C++.Net 2003 anyway?
Another 20 breaking changes for standards conformance. I was talking C#, the improved features include iterators, generics, anonymous methods, etc. The IDE has a lot of cool new stuff as well, including an XSLT debugger, if you're into that sort of thing.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Fair enough. Personally, I'd rather hammer nails into my head, but to each his own
Haha ok. I get what you mean. There are already lots of nails in my head
Hey thanx man. You're provided me with lots of info. Kudos!;)
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desmondling78 wrote:
Haha ok. I get what you mean. There are already lots of nails in my head
Hell, I used to write asp websites, so I've got my fair share as well :P
No worries, glad to help
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Christian Graus wrote:
It's a nice story, but it's not true. If you allocate large objects, you still need to clean up after them, or they will linger for ages.
Most things are a trade-off but I'd rather have garbage collection than not have it. Language designers such as Gosling, Heljsberg and Meyer seem to have reached that conclusion too. They could all be wrong I suppose.
Kevin
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desmondling78 wrote:
Ohh. Because I wish to pick up VB.Net as well. I suppose I can learn C# on my own time and it will be easier since I know C++. The main reason is I wish to be all-rounder...hoping to jack up my value! hah
I think it's certainly worthwhile being able to read the syntax of both languages. That way you can translate samples from one to the other when required.
Kevin
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desmondling78 wrote:
Oh and one more question. When Visual C++.Net 2005 is released, will Microsoft still sell Visual C++.Net 2003? I am deciding on which to buy, but I wish to wait for the release of Visual C++.Net 2005. (I heard from some Microsoft Spokes person that it is slated for July~Aug released.) I'm just afraid by then, will they stop selling .Net 2003 (as is threatened by my suppliers).
As Christian said, it's due out in November. However, if you want to use VC++ 2003 and not have to pay again, or pay the upgrade price, then it might be worthwhile to get an MSDN Subscription. That will automatically entitle you to VC++ 2005 (VS 2005) when it comes out. Check the options and pricing on the MS site. I think MS are currently selling a package called "VS 2003 with MSDN Subscription."
Kevin
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Christian Graus wrote:
I don't know if VB.NET gets any of that, yet.
It gets generics. I don't think it gets the other two.
Kevin
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You can still develop "classic" (non-.NET) apps in VC8
I am currently converting a largish VC6 Project to VC7.1 & VC8beta2 (VC7.1 so we can release even if VC8 is delayed again)
The 5 major hassles in the conversion:
- Standard-compliant compiler (VC6 -> d, I am a bit sloppy with templates, but there are also many other "fine points" of the standard that make stuff wrong)
- safe string functions (VC7->VC8, strsafe.h, CRT, Windows String helpers)
- header pogo (spent over two days to get the PROPVARIANT's work with #import again, and it involves nasty tricks. Note to self: document them)
- the for loop variable scope (VC8)
- whatever you have now, you need a new monitor
(a top end PC is implied)
Still it's absolutely worthwhile to upgrade. The the straw that broke my camels back were all the template stuff the VC6 compiler dosn't get right. (some template instantiations were not linked even though they were not called. In another case, which took me a week to find and isolate, the wrong template specialization was used. It's so bad we currently release patches in unoptimized builds, and I am stalling all major releases)
My problem is that I have to keep the code compatible between the three (dev goes on on VC6, I need VC7.1 to be "ready for release", and I want to go to VC8 if I go through all the hassle), and I am refraining from the "compatibility switches" (sooner or later I have to give them up)
It is a pain that MS isn't offering "compatibility headers" that make code using the safe string functions and the new ANSI <--> Unicode conversion compile under earleir compilers.
Pandoras Gift #44: Hope. The one that keeps you on suffering.
aber.. "Wie gesagt, der Scheiss is' Therapie"
boost your code || Fold With Us! || sighist | doxygen
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peterchen wrote:
the for loop variable scope (VC8)
Thought this was fixed in VC7?
Kevin
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I'm not quite sure, maybe if you import a project into VC7, it sets the compatibility option by default.
(With default imported settings, VC7.1 doesn't complain, but VC8 does)
Pandoras Gift #44: Hope. The one that keeps you on suffering.
aber.. "Wie gesagt, der Scheiss is' Therapie"
boost your code || Fold With Us! || sighist | doxygen
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Not tried that. I think I just started a new project and tried out a loop. I've not really used C++ in anger under VC++ 7.1. Since .NET came out all the C++ work I've done has been under VC++ 6, or else I've been doing C#.
Kevin
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I have a registry in the HKLM\Software\MyReg.
MyReg could have several sub keys
Example
HKLM\Software\MyReg\Prod1
HKLM\Software\MyReg\Wes1
HKLM\Software\MyReg\etc
How can I read all of the subkeys that currently exist under MyREg
using C++6 (non-MFC)
Any help will be greatly appreciated
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RegEnumKeyEx[^] is probably what you want.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Tires to follow the sample code in MSDN, too complicated. Any simplier code available?
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If you want it simpler, you'll need a wrapper class. there are s everal here on CP.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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Hi
I'm working on a project both on my home computer and work computer. I transfer the source and header files using a flash drive. I have two seperate project (.dsw) files, one at home and one at work. I just link the source files in the flash drive to the home or work project and then continue working. However, now that I'm starting to work with the GUI interface, I need to how to transfer the form Graphic back and forth between computers. I can move the source and header file, but not the graphic that you actually lay buttons and menus on. Does anyone know how to move this graphic back and forth?
htuba
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You need to move the resource file, I forget what their file extension is.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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