Microsoft KB Archive/132705

= You receive error messages when you use the 16-bit Resource Editor or the 32-bit Resource Editor in Visual C++ =

Article ID: 132705

Article Last Modified on 4/22/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * The Resource Editor
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 1.5 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 1.51
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 1.52 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 2.1
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q132705



SYMPTOMS
The 16-bit Resource Editor (AppStudio) generates the following message while attempting to edit a bitmap that contains more than 16 colors:

Cannot open bitmap for editing.

Unsupported color resolution.

The 32-bit Resource Editor with Visual C++, version 4.0, (for the 32-bit version Resource Editor) generates the following message while attempting to edit a bitmap that contains more than 256 colors:

Only 2-, 16-, and 256-color bitmaps are supported.

The 32-bit Resource Editor with Visual C++, versions 5.0 and 6.0, generates the following message while attempting to import or edit a bitmap with more than 256 colors:

The bitmap has been imported correctly, however because it contains

more than 256 colors it cannot be loaded in the bitmap editor.



CAUSE
The Resource Editor for the 16-bit versions cannot display or edit bitmaps that contain more than 16 colors, and the Resource Editor for the 32-bit versions cannot display or edit bitmaps that contain more than 256 colors.



RESOLUTION
Choose another graphics editor such as Pbrush.exe (Paintbrush) in the Accessories group on Windows and Windows NT, or Mspaint.exe (Paint) from the Accessories folder on Windows 95 to create or edit the offending bitmaps. Then import them into the resource script.

Note Once you import the picture into the resource file, you will not be able to edit it or display it. However, you can still use the bitmap resource in your application. For example: void CMyView::OnDraw(CDC* pDC) { CMyDoc* pDoc = GetDocument; ASSERT_VALID(pDoc); // TODO: add draw code for native data here.

ASSERT_VALID(pDoc); CBitmap bitmap; CDC dcMemory; bitmap.LoadBitmap(IDB_BITMAP1); dcMemory.CreateCompatibleDC(pDC); dcMemory.SelectObject(&bitmap); pDC->BitBlt(0, 0, 500,500, &dcMemory, 0, 0, SRCCOPY); } If you want to edit the bitmap with the Visual C++ resource editor, you must convert it to use 256 colors. With Visual C++ versions 5.0 and 6.0, you can convert the bitmap into 256 colors by following these steps:
 * 1) Copy the offending bitmap in another graphics program.
 * 2) In the Resource Editor, insert a new bitmap.
 * 3) On the Edit menu, click Paste.
 * 4) The bitmap appears in more than 256 colors.
 * 5) Close the bitmap.
 * 6) Reopen the bitmap, and it contains only 256 colors.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
The 16-bit AppStudio cannot display bitmaps that have more than 16 colors. Sometimes, as a result of this, you will notice that when the file is open for display, AppStudio might automatically change the colors to their closest 16-color approximations without warning you. This limitation depends on which version of Visual C++ you use. For example, versions 1.5 and above prompt you, while version 1.0 provides no warning. If the change takes effect, the bitmap is changed to 16 colors; it cannot be changed back to 256 colors.

Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, allows you to edit bitmaps that contain up to 256 colors. If your video resolution supports more than 256 colors, you will see one of these error messages:

Cannot load file. The current display device does not

support palettes which are required for editing 256-color bitmaps.

-or-

Cannot load file. The Video driver does not support

enough colors to load this image.

Note To edit out-of-range bitmaps by using Visual C++, 32-bit edition, make sure that 256 Colors is selected in the Color Palette combo box in the Display Applet of Control Panel.

Additional query words: 1.50 2.00 2.10 4.00 3.11 3.1 3.10 App Studio

Keywords: kberrmsg kbtshoot kbprb KB132705

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