Visual Studio 2022, Forms, using C++

Question

Visual Studio 2022, Forms, using C++

Bryan Kelly 486

The goal is a project that shows an involved math function one step at a time. It will need a scrollable column of values to show the progress of the operation.

I “think” a viable option is “Forms” but am open to suggestions. The tutorials I find are step by step, but the options are not available on this computer under this VS 2022. I have never used C#.

Example: Start a C++ project for CLR or .NET. There is no option for either of those.

In the dialog “Create a new project,” in the search box, enter “.net c++” and it provides options for C#, Visual Basic, and even F#, but not C++.

Please suggest a graphics utility that can be used to show multiple numbers in a column that is scrollable.

Thank you for your time.

RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-09T21:32:38.1466667+00:00

If you are already familiar with C++ you can use a standard Windows dialog as your application's main window. A list box control in a dialog could provide the scrollable display column.
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-09T22:31:22.69+00:00

Did not expect that. Do you have a favorite tutorial site? And what type of project should I select?
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-09T22:35:22.19+00:00

Tried to add a comment but it disappeared. Have you a favorite tutorial site to direct me to?

Now its displayed again and I cannot delete it. I am not doing well today.

Why type of project should I start with?
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-09T23:28:26.84+00:00

IMHO the quickest way to create C++ full-featured dialog-based application is to use MFC. The new project template for an MFC application allows you to select a dialog-based application.

And then -

If you really want to use C++/CLI with a Windows Forms application then you need to make sure that you included support for that when you installed VS2022.

For example, from the VS2022 Installer -

There are no project templates to create a Windows Forms application using C++/CLI. However, there are numerous examples on the internet that show how to accomplish that by starting with a CLR console project and then tweaking it.

Finally, if you want to work directly with the Windows API you could use the new project template to create a Windows Desktop Application and then manually edit it.

I don't have any recommendations to make for tutorial sites.
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T01:29:05.8833333+00:00

It seems like MFC is a good choice. Start VS 2022 -> Create a new project -> and that dialog is displayed. On the left select either ATL project or Console App. Both do the same. Those are the only two options. In the right, across the top, the three categories are set to: C++, Windows, All project types. Scroll down through the list and MFC is nowhere to be found.

At the bottom is a an option: Install more tools and features.

I have tried and, select several things with MFC in them, still there is no project with MFC in the type.

What steps can be taken to enable an MFC project.

Windows 11, Visual Studio Professional 2022.
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-10T02:06:07.06+00:00

Have you installed the Desktop Development with C++ workload? Checked the boxes for MFC and ATL support?
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-11-10T03:11:40.9566667+00:00

Check
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T04:04:35.9566667+00:00

This is going from bad to worse. I keep running the app Visual Studio Installer, and trying to get MFC. Now when I start VS 2023 Professional and try to create a new project, here are the options.

All the options are gone. I never have seen the MFC option anywhere. What can I do now?
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-11-10T05:36:37.8233333+00:00

Can you share your Visual Studio Installer screenshot of Desktop development with C++ ?
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-10T08:14:46.4333333+00:00

@Bryan Kelly, Take a look at the screenshot of the VS2022 Installer that I included in an earlier comment. As an example it shows that the Desktop Development for C++ workload was selected and installed as well as highlights the selections that included MFC and CLR support.
Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2023-11-10T08:22:14.59+00:00

It will need a scrollable column of values

What do you mean exactly ?

If there is ony 1 column that can be scrolled vertically, it is a ListBox for example

Several columns, a ListView...
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T19:50:04.5366667+00:00

Per Minxin Yu’s advice, I looked back and looked again more carefully at the installer dialog. I added these two items and installed again.

Added C++ Modules for v143 build tools (x64/x8…

C++/CLI support for v143 build tools (Late…

Now the options have been restored and there is a template named “MFC App”

Create a project with that template. It quickly opens a dialog titled “MFC Application” In there is “Application type” drop down. Within there are the options:

Single Document

Multiple Documents

Dialog based

Multiple top-level documents

I did some searches but do not find a clear delineation between those that use the word document and those that use dialog.

To expand on this, and to answer another questions posed to me in this thread, here is the goal. There is to be a dialog that contains a number and a few lines of text describing the number. Let’s say there are 3 lines associated with each number. Then I want a column of those number text combination that is scrollable.

Finally, there needs to be several of those dialogs. And another dialog to select which of those dialogs to be displayed.

In my head, the word “document” refers to something like a word document stored on my hard drive. I don’t need multiple documents of that definition. But, I suspect I don’t have the appropriate definition of “document” in my head.

Please explain the difference between “document” and “dialog” in this option box.

Side note: What used to be MSDN forums has changed and now is much more difficult to use. For example, when I make a post, I cannot see my post and I cannot edit any typos. I must wait some amount of time and refresh before my post becomes visible. This detracts enormously from the usefulness of this forum.

Accepted answer

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Your answer

RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-09T21:32:38.1466667+00:00

If you are already familiar with C++ you can use a standard Windows dialog as your application's main window. A list box control in a dialog could provide the scrollable display column.
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-09T22:31:22.69+00:00

Did not expect that. Do you have a favorite tutorial site? And what type of project should I select?
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-09T22:35:22.19+00:00

Tried to add a comment but it disappeared. Have you a favorite tutorial site to direct me to?

Now its displayed again and I cannot delete it. I am not doing well today.

Why type of project should I start with?
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-09T23:28:26.84+00:00

IMHO the quickest way to create C++ full-featured dialog-based application is to use MFC. The new project template for an MFC application allows you to select a dialog-based application.

And then -

If you really want to use C++/CLI with a Windows Forms application then you need to make sure that you included support for that when you installed VS2022.

For example, from the VS2022 Installer -

There are no project templates to create a Windows Forms application using C++/CLI. However, there are numerous examples on the internet that show how to accomplish that by starting with a CLR console project and then tweaking it.

Finally, if you want to work directly with the Windows API you could use the new project template to create a Windows Desktop Application and then manually edit it.

I don't have any recommendations to make for tutorial sites.
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T01:29:05.8833333+00:00

It seems like MFC is a good choice. Start VS 2022 -> Create a new project -> and that dialog is displayed. On the left select either ATL project or Console App. Both do the same. Those are the only two options. In the right, across the top, the three categories are set to: C++, Windows, All project types. Scroll down through the list and MFC is nowhere to be found.

At the bottom is a an option: Install more tools and features.

I have tried and, select several things with MFC in them, still there is no project with MFC in the type.

What steps can be taken to enable an MFC project.

Windows 11, Visual Studio Professional 2022.
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-10T02:06:07.06+00:00

Have you installed the Desktop Development with C++ workload? Checked the boxes for MFC and ATL support?
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-11-10T03:11:40.9566667+00:00

Check
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T04:04:35.9566667+00:00

This is going from bad to worse. I keep running the app Visual Studio Installer, and trying to get MFC. Now when I start VS 2023 Professional and try to create a new project, here are the options.

All the options are gone. I never have seen the MFC option anywhere. What can I do now?
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-11-10T05:36:37.8233333+00:00

Can you share your Visual Studio Installer screenshot of Desktop development with C++ ?
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-11-10T08:14:46.4333333+00:00

@Bryan Kelly, Take a look at the screenshot of the VS2022 Installer that I included in an earlier comment. As an example it shows that the Desktop Development for C++ workload was selected and installed as well as highlights the selections that included MFC and CLR support.
Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2023-11-10T08:22:14.59+00:00

It will need a scrollable column of values

What do you mean exactly ?

If there is ony 1 column that can be scrolled vertically, it is a ListBox for example

Several columns, a ListView...
Bryan Kelly 486 Reputation points

2023-11-10T19:50:04.5366667+00:00

Per Minxin Yu’s advice, I looked back and looked again more carefully at the installer dialog. I added these two items and installed again.

Added C++ Modules for v143 build tools (x64/x8…

C++/CLI support for v143 build tools (Late…

Now the options have been restored and there is a template named “MFC App”

Create a project with that template. It quickly opens a dialog titled “MFC Application” In there is “Application type” drop down. Within there are the options:

Single Document

Multiple Documents

Dialog based

Multiple top-level documents

I did some searches but do not find a clear delineation between those that use the word document and those that use dialog.

To expand on this, and to answer another questions posed to me in this thread, here is the goal. There is to be a dialog that contains a number and a few lines of text describing the number. Let’s say there are 3 lines associated with each number. Then I want a column of those number text combination that is scrollable.

Finally, there needs to be several of those dialogs. And another dialog to select which of those dialogs to be displayed.

In my head, the word “document” refers to something like a word document stored on my hard drive. I don’t need multiple documents of that definition. But, I suspect I don’t have the appropriate definition of “document” in my head.

Please explain the difference between “document” and “dialog” in this option box.

Side note: What used to be MSDN forums has changed and now is much more difficult to use. For example, when I make a post, I cannot see my post and I cannot edit any typos. I must wait some amount of time and refresh before my post becomes visible. This detracts enormously from the usefulness of this forum.