How to Set an Application Icon in Visual Studio 2008: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Set an Application Icon in Visual Studio 2008

Setting the executable icon for a C application in Visual Studio 2008 isn't a straightforward process. Here's a detailed guide to help you do it.

Prerequisites:

• Ensure you have an .ico file for the icon (PNG files are not supported).

Steps:

1. Open the Resource View by selecting VIEW > RESOURCE VIEW or pressing Ctrl Shift E.
2. Right-click the project name and select ADD > RESOURCE....
3. Choose Icon from the list and click IMPORT.
4. Change the file filter to *.ico to display .ico files.
5. Import the desired icon.

Resource ID Management:

• Visual Studio automatically uses the .ico with the lowest resource ID as the executable icon.
• If multiple .ico files are imported, ensure that the preferred icon has the lowest ID.

Editing Resource IDs:

• Locate the resource.h file in your project folder.
• Manually edit the resource ID values to assign the lowest ID to the desired icon.

Example:

<code class="c++">// resource.h
#define IDI_ICON1                       102
#define IDI_ICON2                       103</code>

In this example, IDI_ICON1 will be used for the application icon.

Gotchas and Tips:

• Ensure that the icon used is actually an .ico file. PNG images will not work.
• The resource.h file can be edited manually to change resource IDs.
• Avoid loading multiple ICO files if possible, as resource ID conflicts may occur.

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