How do I create a C++/CLI Winforms app in VS2012?

by

It is an unsubtle hint that they want you to stop creating C++/CLI Winforms applications. The plumbing is still in place however, at least for VS2012 and VS2013. This might not be the case in a future one.

You can turn a CLR console application into a Winforms application with these steps:

  • Start with File + New + Project, CLR node, CLR Console Application
  • Project + Add New Item, UI node, Windows Form
  • Project + Properties, Linker, System, SubSystem = Windows
  • Project + Properties, Linker, Advanced, Entry Point = main

Change the pre-generated .cpp file to look like this:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "MyForm.h"

namespace ConsoleApplication45 {    // Change this!!
    using namespace System;
    using namespace System::Windows::Forms;

    [STAThread]
    int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
    {
        Application::EnableVisualStyles();
        Application::SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false); 
        Application::Run(gcnew MyForm());
        return 0;
    }
}

Note that you’ll need to change the namespace name to your project name. Press F5 to test. You can design the form as normal once everything checks out.

NOTE, Visual Studio 2015 has a nasty static initialization order bug in the CRT that can cause the app to crash instantly with an AVE at startup if the project contains any native C++ code. As yet an unfixed bug, the somewhat inevitable hazard of having these project templates removed. A possible workaround is to change the Entry Point (4th bullet).

For a project that targets x86, copy paste this string:

?mainCRTStartupStrArray@@$$FYMHP$01AP$AAVString@System@@@Z

For a project that targets x64, copy paste:

?mainCRTStartupStrArray@@$$FYMHP$01EAPE$AAVString@System@@@Z

Somewhere around VS2017 the designer fails to open a new form with a cryptic error message. Workaround is to build the project first, use Build > Build.

More Related Contents:

  1. How do I update the GUI from another thread?
  2. Cross-thread operation not valid [duplicate]
  3. Winforms-How can I make MessageBox appear centered on MainForm?
  4. Why the form load can’t catch exception?
  5. System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher and WinForms?
  6. WinForm UI Validation
  7. process.WaitForExit() asynchronously
  8. How can I make the cursor turn to the wait cursor?
  9. UI Design Pattern for Windows Forms (like MVVM for WPF)
  10. How to drag and move shapes in C#
  11. Formatting text in WinForm Label
  12. Making a WinForms TextBox behave like your browser’s address bar
  13. How to update textbox on GUI from another thread [duplicate]
  14. How to disable a WinForms TreeView node checkbox?
  15. Windows forms – add data to list view on button click [duplicate]
  16. How to auto resize and adjust Form controls with change in resolution
  17. How to draw custom button in Window Titlebar with Windows Forms?
  18. Stop comboBox’s selectedIndexChanged event from firing when the form loads
  19. Max Char in TextBox C#?
  20. Ribbon UI Control for WinForms
  21. Adding button into a Listview in WinForms
  22. WinForms how to call a Double-Click Event on a Button?
  23. Looking for clean WinForms MVC tutorial for C# [closed]
  24. Multiple UI Threads – Winforms
  25. VB.Net Passing values to another form
  26. Updating UI in C# using Timer
  27. Standard Windows menu bars in Windows Forms
  28. How do I programmatically scroll a winforms datagridview control?
  29. Download a file through the WebBrowser control
  30. Prerequisites button disabled – MSI installer

Leave a Comment