MFC Resource-only dll

How to create a resource-only dll?

• create a new Win32 DLL (non-MFC) project and add your resources to the project


• 
  

  In project's property pages->Linker->Advanced, Specify the /NOENTRY linker option.
  /NOENTRY prevents the linker from linking a reference to _main into the DLL; this option is required to create a resource-only DLL.

  
  

How to use a resource-only dll?

The application that uses the resource-only DLL should call LoadLibrary to explicitly link to the DLL.

//load resource:

HINSTANCE m_hInstResource;
m_strResFilename = _T("DataExchangeRes.dll");
m_hInstResource = ::LoadLibrary(m_strResFilename);
if (NULL != m_hInstResource){
AfxSetResourceHandle(m_hInstResource);
}

//Free Resource:

if (NULL != m_hInstResource) {
VERIFY(FreeLibrary(m_hInstResource));
m_hInstResource = NULL;
}

//Access the resource:

FindResource

LoadResource

FormatMessage

LoadAccelerators

LoadBitmap

LoadCursor

LoadIcon

LoadMenu

LoadString