C / C++ / MFC

// Load status bitmaps
m_tbiStatusImages = new CMFCToolBarImages;
m_tbiStatusImages->SetImageSize(CSize(16, 16));
m_tbiStatusImages->Load(IDB_STATUS_SMALL);

// Create status bar panes
m_rbgMicrowaveIcon = new CMFCRibbonButtonsGroup;
m_rbgMicrowaveIcon->SetImages(m_tbiStatusImages, m_tbiStatusImages, m_tbiStatusImages);
m_rbMicrowaveIcon = new CMFCRibbonButton(ID_STATUSBAR_MICROWAVE_ICON, _T("Microwave Status"), -1, -1);
m_rbgMicrowaveIcon->AddButton(m_rbMicrowaveIcon);
m_wndStatusBar.AddElement(m_rbgMicrowaveIcon, _T("Microwave Status"));
m_rbMicrowaveIcon->SetImageIndex(0, FALSE);

string laceStrings(const string& s1, const string& s2)
{
    if (s1.empty())
        return s2;
    if (s2.empty())
        return s1;

    string laced;
    laced.resize(s1.size() + s2.size());

    int i = 0, pos = 0;
    int size = std::min(s1.size(), s2.size());

    // interlace common lengths substrings
    for ( ; i < size; ++i)
    {
        laced[pos++] = s1[i];
        laced[pos++] = s2[i];
    }

    // append the remainder of longer string
    if (s1.size() >= s2.size())
        for ( ; i < s1.size(); ++i)
            laced[pos++] = s1[i];
    else
        for ( ; i < s2.size(); ++i)
            laced[pos++] = s2[i];

    return laced;
}