Win32 API Documentation – Menu Resource

Menu Resource Example

This example demonstrates a typical .rc file that defines a main menu with File, Edit, and Help items. It also shows how to associate command IDs with menu commands.

Copy#include <windows.h>

#define IDM_FILE_NEW        40001
#define IDM_FILE_OPEN       40002
#define IDM_FILE_SAVE       40003
#define IDM_FILE_EXIT       40004

#define IDM_EDIT_UNDO       40101
#define IDM_EDIT_CUT        40102
#define IDM_EDIT_COPY       40103
#define IDM_EDIT_PASTE      40104

#define IDM_HELP_ABOUT      40201

IDR_MAINMENU MENU
BEGIN
    POPUP "&File"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "&New",   IDM_FILE_NEW
        MENUITEM "&Open...", IDM_FILE_OPEN
        MENUITEM "&Save",  IDM_FILE_SAVE
        MENUITEM SEPARATOR
        MENUITEM "E&xit",   IDM_FILE_EXIT
    END
    POPUP "&Edit"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "&Undo",    IDM_EDIT_UNDO, GRAYED
        MENUITEM SEPARATOR
        MENUITEM "Cu&t",      IDM_EDIT_CUT
        MENUITEM "&Copy",    IDM_EDIT_COPY
        MENUITEM "&Paste",   IDM_EDIT_PASTE
    END
    POPUP "&Help"
    BEGIN
        MENUITEM "&About...", IDM_HELP_ABOUT
    END
END

Compile the resource file with rc.exe and link it into your application. The defined command IDs can be processed in your window procedure:

CopyLRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hWnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    switch (msg)
    {
        case WM_COMMAND:
            switch (LOWORD(wParam))
            {
                case IDM_FILE_NEW:   // handle New
                    // ...
                    break;
                case IDM_FILE_OPEN:  // handle Open
                    // ...
                    break;
                case IDM_FILE_EXIT:
                    PostQuitMessage(0);
                    break;
                // other cases...
            }
            break;
        // other messages...
    }
    return DefWindowProc(hWnd, msg, wParam, lParam);
}