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What are the major changes from Visual C++ 2.0 to 4.0?

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See Changes from MFC Versions 3.x for a description of changes in the Microsoft Foundation Class Library.

The major changes to Visual C++ since the 2.0 version are:

Feature changes:

  • Component Gallery with new prebuilt objects including ActiveX controls.

  • Build your own ActiveX controls.

  • Customizable AppWizard.

  • Integrated source-code control.

Development Environment changes:

  • ClassView.

  • WizardBar.

  • Enhanced text editor (including BRIEF and Epsilon emulation) and resource editor.

  • Support for importing Visual Basic forms lets you reuse forms and migrate easily.

Build system changes:

  • Incremental compiler compiles only the functions that have changed.

  • Incremental linker relinks only modules that have changed.

  • Minimal rebuild builds only the files that need to be built.

Database support changes:

  • MFC DAO classes that use the Microsoft Jet database engine, version 3.0 or later.

  • ODBC support through MFC ODBC classes and high-performance 32-bit ODBC drivers.

  • Visual C++ wizard support for both MFC DAO and MFC ODBC classes.