BCGSoft > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I've installed BCGControlBar library, but I can't find any DLLs and library files. Where can I find them?
How can I start using BCGControlBar library?
How can I switch my existing MFC application to BCGControlBar library?
How can I change the menu contents dynamically, in the run-time?
I added some new toolbar buttons and menu items in my Resource Editor, but I don't see them when I'm running the application. What's going wrong?
I would like assigning some images to the menu items without placing them on the toolbars. Is it possible?
How can I add to my program context menus?
Is it possible to change a default menu font?
How can I add a library to my static MFC project?
I would like to draw my own images on the menu items without adding them to toolbars resources. How can I do it?
I put a tree control into CBCGPDockingControlBar window. How can I response the messages of the tree control?
I create two toolbars in the OnCreate method of my CMainFrame class. When I run the application for the first time, the toolbars show, but when I run a second time, the toolbars are the same and look like the second toolbar. What am I doing wrong?
Is it possible to use CBCGPToolBar in dialog boxes?
Is BCGControlBar Library available for Visual Basic or other AciveX container?
I'm using Visual C++ 6.0. I'm getting access violation in CHtmlView::Refresh2 during execution of my application. What's going wrong?
The following error appears when I'm trying to compile the library under VC++ 6.0 + platform SDK: "transact.h(226) : error C2059: syntax error : 'constant'". How can I solve this problem?
In my application I have a number of toolbars. How to create one of the toolbars with a different image/button size?
I'm porting my application to BCGControlBar. When I'm trying to access the main application menu, GetMenu is always returns NULL. How can I change my menu bar?
When I'm trying to link my program with BCGControlBar library, I get lot of linker errors like 'error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accName'. How can I resolve this problem?

Remark: this article assumes that you are familiar with MFC and Microsoft Visual C++ environment.

Q: I've installed BCGControlBar library, but I can't find any DLLs and library files. Where can I find them?
A: If you're using evaluation version:

The library include files are located in <install dir>\BCGCBPro directory. (The default installation folder is "c:\program files\bcgsoft\BCGControlBar Professional Evaluation"). The library project files prepared for Visual C++ 6.0, Visual Studio.NET, Visual Studio.NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005/2008 are located in <install dir>\Bin directory. The following convention is used for library/DLL names:

BCGCBPROmmmEvalnn, where 'mmm' - BCGControlBar Library version and 'nn' - Visual Studio version. For example, if you downloaded BCGControlBar Pro version 20.0, the following binary files are shipped:

BCGCBPRO200Eval60.dll Visual C++ 6.0 DLL

BCGCBPRO200Eval60.lib Visual C++ 6.0 Library

BCGCBPRO200Eval70.dll Visual Studio.NET DLL

BCGCBPRO200Eval70.lib Visual Studio.NET Library

BCGCBPRO200Eval71.dll Visual Studio.NET 2003 DLL

BCGCBPRO200Eval71.lib Visual Studio.NET 2003 Library

BCGCBPRO200Eval800.dll Visual Studio 2005 DLL

BCGCBPRO200Eval800.lib Visual Studio 2005 Library

BCGCBPRO200Eval900.dll Visual Studio 2008 DLL

BCGCBPRO200Eval900.lib Visual Studio 2008 Library

The library files are located in <install dir>\Bin and for your convenience the above DLLs are placed into Windows System32 directory.

If you're using retail version:

You should build all BCGControlBar DLLs. We recommend to use our BCGCBProBuildWizard application (located in the installation root). Or, alternatively, you can open BCGCBPro project in your Visual Studio environment and and build all required configurations. You will get following DLLs and library files:

BCGCBPRO***Dxx.dll, BCGCBPRO***Dxx.lib DLL debug version

BCGCBPRO***xx.dll, BCGCBPRO***xx.lib DLL release version

BCGCBPRO***UDxx.dll, BCGCBPRO***UDxx.lib DLL debug version, UNICODE

BCGCBPRO***Uxx.dll, BCGCBPRO***Uxx.lib DLL release version UNICODE

BCGCBPRO***StaticDxx.lib static library debug version

BCGCBPRO***StaticDSxx.lib static library debug version, MFC shared DLL

BCGCBPRO***Staticxx.lib static library release version

BCGCBPRO***StaticSxx.lib static library release version, MFC shared DLL

BCGCBPRO***StaticUDxx.lib static library debug version, UNICODE

BCGCBPRO***StaticUDSxx.lib static library debug version, UNICODE, MFC shared DLL

BCGCBPRO***Uxx.lib static library release version, UNICODE

BCGCBPRO***USxx.lib static library release version, UNICODE, MFC shared DLL

*** means version number and xx means Visual Studio version (empty for Visual C++ 6.0). For example, if you are using library version 20.0 and build DLLs using Visual Studio 2012, release version of DLL will be BCGCBPRO200110.dll

All these files will be located in your <BCGLibrary Directory>\Bin directory (default location is "c:\Program Files\BCGSoft\BCGControlBarPro\Bin").

Important: please remember add this directory to the system path.

Q: How can I start using BCGControlBar library?
A: First of all, build all BCGControlBar libraries (see question above). Then open "New Project...." dialog and choose BCGPAppWizard. This application wizard is very similar to the standard MFC's AppWizard. On the last step this wizard allows you to define BCGControlBar-specific items. Finish the wizard and build your project. Run it and you will see how simple it is to create MS-Office/VS look-and-feel applications!

Q: How can I switch my existing MFC application to BCGControlBar library?
A: First of all, BCGControlBar library doesn't replace MFC, it just enhances it. So unless you have in use some tricky methods (such as subclassing MDI client area window), this process should be easy. Here we'll try to guide you through the basic steps that you should make:

Add #include "BCGCBProInc.h" to your stdafx.h. The project will be linked with the appropriated BCGControlBarlibrary automatically.

Add CBCGPWorkspace-derivation to your application class:

class CMyApp : public CWinApp, public CBCGPWorkspace

Make sure, that you call AfxOleInit() in your application InitInstance()
Add the following call to InitInstance(): SetRegistryKey(_T("MyCompany\\MyProduct"));

Call BCGCBProCleanUp() in you application's ExitInstance() method.

Change CMainFrame base class:

SDI application: replace CFrameWnd with CBCGPFrameWnd
MDI application: replace CMDIFrameWnd with CBCGPMDIFrameWnd and CMDIChildWnd to CBCGPMDIChildWnd
Replace COleIPFrameWnd with CBCGPOleIPFrameWnd

(Important: please make these change everywhere, not in the class declaration only!)

Change CToolBar to CBCGPToolBar. Please note, if you are calling CToolBar method SetSizes with different values for several toolbars, it doesn't work! CBCGPToolBar:: SetSizes is a static method because all toolbar's buttons have to have the same size.

If you would like to add a menu bar (MS Office-like dockable control bar with a menu), just add the following member to CMainFrame class: CBCGPMenuBar m_wndMenuBar and initialize it in the same way as the toolbar member (see example code).

Set the application visual style at the beginning of your CMainFrame::OnCreate():

CBCGPVisualManager::SetDefaultManager(RUNTIME_CLASS(manager));

where the manager is one of:

CBCGPVisualManager - MS Office 2000 look

CBCGPVisualManagerXP - MS Office XP look

CBCGPVisualManager2003 - MS Office 2003 look

CBCGPVisualManager2007 - MS Office 2007 look

CBCGPVisualManagerVS2005 - Visual Studio 2005 look

CBCGPVisualManagerVS2008 - Visual Studio 2008 look

CBCGPVisualManager2010 - MS Office 2010 look

CBCGPVisualManagerVS2010 - Visual Studio 2010 look

CBCGPVisualManagerVS2012 - Visual Studio 2012 look

CBCGPVisualManager2013 - MS Office 2013 look

CBCGPWinXPVisualManager - Windows native look.

Q: How can I change the menu contents dynamically, in run-time?
A: Override CBCG***FrameWnd::OnShowPopupMenu method.

Example:

BOOL CMainFrame::OnShowPopupMenu (CBCGPPopupMenu* pPopupMenu)
{
    BOOL bRes = CBCG***FrameWnd::OnShowPopupMenu (pPopupMenu);

    if (pPopupMenu != NULL)
    {
        // Remove item number 3 from menu
        pPopupMenu->RemoveItem (3);

        // Insert item with id ID_VIEW_TOOLBAR into the 2-nd position:
        CBCGPToolbarMenuButton btnNewMenuItem (ID_VIEW_TOOLBAR, NULL, -1);
        pPopupMenu->InsertItem (btnNewMenuItem, 2);
    }

    return bRes;
}

Q: I added some new toolbar buttons and menu items in my Resource Editor, but I don't see them when I'm running the application. What's going wrong?
A: BCGControlBar library loads toolbar and menu items directly from the resources when you are running the program for the first time. Next time, library will retrieve the data from the registry, where all customization results were saved. To see your changes, just open customization dialog, switch to the "Toolbars" page and click "Reset All" button. Customization manager will reset all toolbars and menu states.

In addition, BCGControlBar Library automatically updates toolbar and menu resources. To enable this feature, you need to pass TRUE to CBCGPWorkspace constructor:

Example:

CMyApp::CMyApp() :
CBCGPWorkspace (TRUE /* bResourceSmartUpdate */)
{
}

Q: I would like assigning some images to the menu items without placing them on the toolbars. Is it possible?
A: Yes! In the Resource Editor, create a new toolbar (e.g. IDR_MENUIMAGES). Add a new buttons associated with a menu commands. Now, in CMainFrame::OnCreate just call CBCGPToolBar::AddToolBarForImageCollection (IDR_MENUIMAGES) (static function).

Q: How can I add to my program context menus?
A: In the Resource Editor, create a new menu resource (e.g. IDR_MYMENU). If this menu needs to be customizable, add it to your context menu customization manager (CMyApp::PreLoadState ()):

Example:

void CMyApp::PreLoadState()
{
...
AddMenu (_T("Menu Name"), IDR_MY_MENU);
}

Add WM_CONTEXTMENU handler to your CWnd/CView- derived class:

Example:

void CMyView::OnContextMenu(CWnd*, CPoint point)
{
theApp.ShowPopupMenu (IDR_MY_MENU, point.x, point.y, this)
}

Q: Is it possible to change a default menu font?
A: Yes. Just call static function BOOL CBCGPMenuBar::SetMenuFont (LPLOGFONT lpLogFont, BOOL bHorz = TRUE);

Q: How can I add a library to my static MFC project?
A: You need to follow these steps:

Build a static library (see first question).

In the Visual C++ open "Resource Includes" dialog (View | Resource Includes in Visual C++ 6.0 or right click to .rc folder in "Resource View " tab in Visual Studio.NET/2005/2008).

Add #include "bcgprores.h" to "Read-only symbol directives".

Add #include "BCGCBPro.rc" to "compile-time directives".
(if your project requires localization, type #include "L.***\bcgcbpro.rc" where *** is a language name prefix. See Localization page for more details)

Remove _AFX_NO_SPLITTER_RESOURCES. Otherwise, you'll not be able to see splitter cursors required by the library.

If you are using static library version with MFC shared DLL, add
"#define _BCGCBPRO_STATIC_ to "compile-time directives".

If you need to load Office 2007-like styles, you've to add the following .rc files to "compile-time directives" after #include "BCGCBPro.rc":

#include "<BCGPro installation folder>\Styles\BCGPStyle2007Luna.rc"
#include "<BCGPro installation folder>\Styles\BCGPStyle2007Obsidian.rc"
#include "<BCGPro installation folder>\Styles\BCGPStyle2007Silver.rc"
#include "<BCGPro installation folder>\Styles\BCGPStyle2007Aqua.rc"

and add <BCGPro installation folder>\Styles folder to "Additional resource include directory" in the project's Resources settings.

Q: I would like to draw my own images on the menu items without adding them to toolbars resources. How can I do it?
A: Override CBCG***Frame::OnDrawMenuImage () function (see BCGPIE7Demo example).

Q: I put a tree control into CBCGPDockingControlBar window. How can I response the messages of the tree control?
A: Create your own tree control class derived from CTreeCtrl and add a message handler(s) to this class.

Q: I create two toolbars in the OnCreate method of my CMainFrame class. When I run the application for the first time, the toolbars show, but when I run a second time, the toolbars are the same and look like the second toolbar. What am I doing wrong?
A: Make sure that each toolbar is created with its own unique id:

Wrong (each toolbar was created with AFX_IDW_TOOLBAR ID):

void CMainFrame::OnCreate (LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct)
{
    ....
    m_wndToolBar.Create (this, <style>);
    m_wndToolBar2.Create (this, <style>);
    ....
}

Correct:

void CMainFrame::OnCreate (LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct)
{
    ....
    m_wndToolBar.Create (this, <style>);
    m_wndToolBar2.Create (this, <style>, id_of_second_toolbar);
    ....
}

Q: Is it possible to use CBCGPToolBar in dialog boxes?
A: Yes. To do so, you need to add CBCGPToolBar m_wndToolBar in your dialog class and add the following code in CMyDialog::OnInitDialog:

Example:

BOOL CMyDialog::OnInitDialog()
{
    ...
    m_wndToolBar.SetOwner (this /* dialog class */);
    m_wndToolBar.SetRouteCommandsViaFrame (FALSE);
    ...
}

Q: Is BCGControlBar Library available for Visual Basic or other ActiveX container?
A: No

Q: I'm using Visual C++ 6.0. I'm getting access violation in CHtmlView::Refresh2 during execution of my application. What's going wrong?
A: You need to install Visual Studio SP3 or higher. In addition, if your VC's locale differs from English, you must manually activate the setupsp3.exe in the /enu subdirectory (English version).

Q: The following error appears when I'm trying to compile the library under VC++ 6.0 + platform SDK: "transact.h(226) : error C2059: syntax error : 'constant'". How can I solve this problem?
A: Make sure, that MFC's include directory is placed atop the SDK and SQL in the VC include directories list. There are some files with the same name (for example, "occimpl.h"), but with a completely different context. In VS.NET, MFC's "occimpl.h" is renamed to "afxocc.h", therefore this problem is relevant for the version 6.0 only.

Q: In my application I have a number of toolbars. How to create one of the toolbars with a different image/button size?
A: By design, all buttons in the customizable toolbars should have the same image size. Otherwise, it will be impossible to move a button from one toolbar to another. However, if you need a toolbar with either larger/smaller images, you need to create it as "locked" (non customizable). To do it, just set bLocked parameter of CBCGPToolBar::LoadToolBar to TRUE:

Example:

void CMainFrame::OnCreate (LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct)
{
    ....
    m_wndToolBar.LoadToolBar (IDR_MAINFRAME);
    m_wndToolBar2.LoadToolBar (ID_OF_LARGE_TOOLBAR, 0, 0, TRUE /* bLocked */);
    ....
}

Q: I'm porting my application to BCGControlBar. When I'm trying to access the main application menu, GetMenu always returns NULL. How can I change my menu bar?
A: Because BCGControlBar's menu bar (CBCGPMenuBar) replaces the standard application menu, GetMenu always returns NULL. We suggest you the following ways to manipulate your menu at run time:

Don't call EnableMenuItem or CheckMenuItem: use the OnUpdateCommand mechanism instead

If you need to change popup menu content (such as "File" or "Help" menus) dynamically, override the OnShowPopupMenu method in your CMainFrame class (see DynamicMenu sample application).

If you need to change top-level menu items, derive your class from CBCGPMenuBar and override the RestoreOriginalstate method (see DynamicMenu sample application).

Example:

BOOL CMainFrame::OnShowPopupMenu (CBCGPPopupMenu* pMenuPopup)
{
    // Remove first menu item:
    pMenuPopup->RemoveItem (0);

    // Insert new menu item:
    pMenuPopup->InsertItem (CBCGPToolbarMenuButton (id, NULL, -1, _T("MyItem 1")), 1);
    ....
}

BOOL CMyMenuBar::RestoreOriginalstate ()
{
    CBCGPMenuBar::RestoreOriginalstate ();

    // Insert new menu item:
    CMenu menu;
    menu.LoadMenu (IDR_DYNAMIC_MENU);

    InsertButton (CBCGPToolbarMenuButton (0, menu, -1, _T ("&DynamicMenu")));

    AdjustLayout();
    AdjustSizeImmediate ();
    ....
}

Q: When I'm trying to link my program with BCGControlBar library, I get lot of linker errors like 'error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accName'. How can I resolve this problem?
A: If you get the following error messages:

error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accName
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accValue
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accDescription
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accHelp
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accHelpTopic
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accKeyboardShortcut
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::get_accDefaultAction
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::put_accName
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: virtual long __thiscall CBCGPWnd::put_accValue

please check the option "Treat wchar_t as built in type" in C/C++ | Language settings for the project and change it to the opposite. The point is that the project should be compiled with the same setting as the library.