How to: Open a Resource Script File Outside of a Project (Standalone)
You can view resources in an .rc file without having a project open. The .rc file will open in a document window as opposed to opening in the Resource View window (as it does when the file is open inside a project).
Note
This is an important distinction because some commands are only available when the file is opened standalone (outside of a project). For example, you can only save a file in a different format or as a different file name when the file is opened outside of a project (the Save As command is unavailable when a file is opened inside a project).
To open an .rc file outside a project
From the File menu, choose Open, then click File.
In the Open File dialog box, navigate to the resource script file you want to view, highlight the file, and click Open.
Note
If you open the project first (File, Open, Project), some commands will not be available to you. Opening a file "standalone" means opening it without first loading the project.
To open and view the resource file in text format, see Editing a Resource Script (.rc) File.
To open multiple .rc files outside a project
Open both resource files stand-alone. For example, open Source1.rc and Source2.rc.
From the File menu, choose Open, then click File.
In the Open File dialog box, navigate to the first resource script file you want to open (Source1.rc), highlight the file, and click Open.
Repeat the previous step to open the second .rc file (Source2.rc).
The .rc files are now open in separate documents windows.
When both .rc files are open, tile the windows so you can view them simultaneously:
From the Window menu, choose New Horizontal Tab Group or New Vertical Tab Group.
- or -
Right-click one of the .rc files and choose New Horizontal Tab Group or New Vertical Tab Group from the shortcut menu.
Note
If your project doesn't already contain an .rc file, please see Creating a New Resource Script File.
For information on adding resources to managed projects, please see Resources in Applications in the .NET Framework Developer's Guide. For information on manually adding resource files to managed projects, accessing resources, displaying static resources, and assigning resources strings to properties, see Walkthrough: Localizing Windows Forms and Walkthrough: Using Resources for Localization with ASP.NET.
Requirements
Win32