Nope, you were wrong as far as standard best practice goes (see Code Complete as an authoritative example). While in C this is the standard practice, in C++ it is considered the standard practice to code your var declarations/definitions at the point of first use. If you think about it, this makes sense for an OOP language. The idea is that in C++, you want good encapsulation and easier maintainability. Problem is that few who claim they are coding in C++ are doing little more than compiling C with a C++ compiler. However, the bottom line is that as the programmer, you get to do it any way you find best. Probably a better way of "teaching" is just to post an example of how you would do it, and let the other person take what they can from it. Patrick

A number of companies offer code signing certificates, for prices from $100-200. I'm wondering if some are better than others, or perhaps the tools some provide make them worth the extra expense. Anyone have any thoughts on who is the best to go with? Patrick

Actually, I was able to get that mostly working, but had some problems. First, it doesn't update the product number. I could probably fix that as he provides the source, but the second problem lead me to continue for more of an "add-in" solution. The 2nd problem is that this results in a file that has the version set in the properties, but if you mouse over it, the hover text always says, 1.0.0.0. That would just confuse my users. So, I'm searching for something someone has turned into a drop-in add-in, or something that doesn't have these issues. Also, I prefer to have the .rc2 VERSIONINFO be the source, vs. another file, although that is really nothing, I can edit either easily. Patrick

I'm looking for a VS2005 add-in to auto increment the build number each time I compile. Anyone know of a working VS2005 add-in? What do you use/do to accomplish this task? Patrick

Nice idea. Personally, I use Visual Assist-X, available at: http://www.wholetomato.com and couldn't live without it now.

While all the books mentioned by others are great books, without a doubt, I have a better book for you if you are learning C++, and want to learn the "why" underneth the "how" which will cement your learning as you discover how each feature solves a problem. This knowledge will give you a fundemental understanding of not only how to write code (form statements and objects), but why you write it a certain way. C++ Primer Plus - Fifth Edition[^] by Stephen Prata Also, this is not enough. While you will no doubt have a very firm foundation on coding in C++, you will then need to learn OO design in order not to be simply be coding procedurally with C designs in C++. To achieve that, I highly (x10) recommend: [Head First Design Patterns](http://Head First Design Patterns)[[^](http://Head First Design Patterns "New Window")] By Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Freeman, Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates Now, while this book is in Java, the exercise of "translating" to C++ and actually writing and compiling the code will cement your earlier learning and how to really use proper OO design to solve real problems. Moreover, it will introduce you to patterns from the beginning. Then, you can tackle the STL. Good luck, Patrick

Hey guys, There is a great addin here on Code Project: AutoBuild[^] But, the article has no directions on how to "install" the .dll addin, and I would like to use it with VS 2005. Thanks for any help. Patrick

Hi, Yes, but I think the problem may be solved now. http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k282/Benchmark_Avionics/Properties.png[^] Someone informed me that a recent change in the game program included some libraries that require now that we statically link the program. So, I have recompiled and will not test this in the morning. Thanks guys for your ideas. I'll let you know if this was the problem for everyone's future reference. As I am using MS DirectInput and DirectSound in this project, I was worred it had to do with DirectX, but seems it has to do with the recent game update.

No, we tested that, but it may be solved now. (See above).

I will try, but not likely to be helpful to you. I make add-on aircraft and avionics gauges for MS Flight Simulator. The "gauges" are made with an SDK supplied by MS, and compile into .dll's. However, they are not tru .dll's from what I understand. In any case, the "gauges" (multiple in one file) appear fine in my aircraft on MSFS, and he just gets a blank panel. I made a version in which I turned off the protection code to see if perhaps the call to get verify the license key is maybe the issue as he is on XP Pro, and someone else suggested that I compile with "multi-threaded" vs. multithreaded dll as some new runtimes in an update from MS on the game has new runtimes in it. So, I will try that and see what happens too. I am just ready to pull out my hair. But, this is my own fault for not actually going to school for this and learning the proper way, haha. My problem is I barely understand what I'm doing sometimes. C++ is no problem, but Windows is way over my head. =) Patrick

How could I check this?

I got it. =) I knew right away you had to be from Hungary, with that sense of humor, haha.

It seems that whenever I distribute an application, it never works on my first beta testers computer, even though they are running the same O/S (Windows XP), with the latest DirectX (April 2007). Anyone else run into this problem? What do you do to solve it? Patrick

I want to add a "-" to an existing string: char* sOutString = new char[stringSize]; strcat( sOutString, "-" ); // Results in Warning but use the new function to avoid the deprecation warning: strcat_s( sOutString, stringSize, "-" ); But, this is apperently not correct as it crashes on this line. What am I doing wrong and how to I fix it? EDIT: The above does work... I just did something wrong. All working now. Thx.

I just realised why I'm having the problem I'm having. I started a straight C++ project, and added a CLR form! I really didn't want a managed form, as I want to stick with unmanaged C++. duh So, basically, either I do this in C# ( or managed C++ ) or I have to learn how to do windows forms :( I think I'll stick to a console app to do this simple job and avoid the whole dang problem. Windows programming is just to much of a pain to learn.

Code? So if I tell you that you are given a variable: myString[] = "0C34AZ"; // which is null terminated what would be working code to put it in a textbox?

My question has nothing to do with managed code. Basically, forget the code which is confusing you, and just think of this as the question: If you have a c-string (ie a null terminated string) and you want to set the Text in a textbox to that value, how do you do it? For example, when a button on the form is pushed, set the textbox to the c-string's value. Patrick

No, the above code has nothing to do with C#, it is straight C++.

Ok, I'm new to doing this in C++, although I have done it in C#. As this code has to work inside another larger C++ project I have (game program) I can't just do it in C#. In my click handler for a button I want to put text into a textbox control on my form. Unfortunately, the "text" is in a c-string (ie null terminated string), and so I'm not sure how to get it to work: System::Void btnGen_Click(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { BYTE bMacaddress[MAC_DIM]; CSoftwareKey::RetrieveMACAddress(bMacaddress); char* pMacString = NULL; CSoftwareKey::Buffer2HexString( bMacaddress, MAC_DIM, &pMacString ); tbMacAddress->Text = *pMacString; // <---- Problem line } I tried first making a string: string strMacAddr(pMacString); and then: tbMacAddress->Text = pMacString; but this doesn't work either (and I'm sure you are laughing now) =) Anyway, how can I do this? Basically, pMacString points to something like this: "000C41805D2D\0" ( if I am making sense ) and so that's what I want in the text box. Thanks Patrick

I'm wanting to be able to accept electronic payments for consulting and products through a service like PayPal. However, I'm not entirely happy with PayPal (their fees seem high and takes time to get them to pay you), and want to explore other options. Anyone have thoughts?