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Q132705: PRB: Errors When You Edit Bitmaps with More Than 16 or 256 Color

Article: Q132705
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.5,1.51,1.52,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg _IK920 kbVC kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kb
Last Modified: 31-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- The Resource Editor 
- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.5, 1.51, 1.52, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition, version 6.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

  <bitmap file path> Cannot load file. The current display device does
  not
  support palettes which are required for editing 256-color bitmaps.

  -or-

  <bitmap file path> Cannot load file. The Video driver does not support
  enough colors to load this image.

NOTE: To be able to edit out-of-range bitmaps 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 _IK920 kbVC kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbprb kbGrpDSTools 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbvc150 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbVC151 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC152 kbResourceEd kbVC500Search
Version           : :1.5,1.51,1.52,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

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