The OS/2 Resource Compiler (RC) is an application-development tool that lets you add application resources, such as message strings, pointers, menus, and dialog boxes, to the executable file of your application. The Resource Compiler is primarily intended to prepare data for OS/2 applications that use functions such as WinLoadString, WinLoadPointer, WinLoadMenu, and WinLoadDlg. These functions load resources from the executable file of your application or another specified executable file. The application can then use the loaded resources as needed.
The Resource Compiler and the resource functions let you quickly define and/or modify application resources without recompiling the application itself. That is, RC can modify the resources in an executable file at any time without affecting the rest of the file. This means that you can create custom applications from a single executable file - you just use RC to add the custom resources you need to each application.
The Resource Compiler is especially important for international applications because it lets you define all language-dependent data, such as message strings, as resources. Preparing the application for a new language is simply a matter of adding new resources to the existing executable file.
Note: Make sure the file RCPP.EXE (the Resource Compiler preprocessor) is available for the use of the Resource Compiler. It can be in the current directory, or in a directory to which there is a path.