Delphi in a Nutshell

Name

$Resource Compiler Directive

Syntax

{$R FileName}
{$Resource FileName}
{$R 'Filename.res' 'FileName.rc'}
{$Resource 'FileName.res' 'FileName.rc'}

Scope

Local

Description

The $Resource directive includes an external resource file in a project or package. When the project or package is linked, Delphi includes the resource file in the final .exe, .dll, or .bpl file. The resource file does not have to exist when the unit is compiled—only when the project is linked. A source file can load any number of resource files.

If the FileName is an asterisk (*), Delphi uses the source file’s base name, substituting the extension that appears in the directive. For example, form units must include the directive {$R *.DFM}, which loads the form’s description as a resource file. (To maintain compatibility with Delphi 1, binary .dfm files are 16-bit resource files. Delphi converts them to 32-bit resources when linking the project.)

The two-parameter form of the $Resource directive applies only to .dpr files. If the directive appears at the start of a project’s .dpr file and it lists two filenames, the first file is linked into the project, and the second appears in the project manager. When Delphi’s IDE builds the project, it also compiles the resource script (.rc file) into a .res file so it can link the .res file with the project. Compiling the resource script is a feature unique to the IDE. The command-line compiler does not compile the resource script. (For more information on the command-line ...