Create C++ GUI project

Question

Windows 11, VS Professional 2019, Version 16.11.44, C++

I want to create a project that starts up with a GUI.

Select project template:  Windows Desktop Application.  The text states:  A project for an application with a graphical user interface that runs on Windows.  The options are: C++, Windows, Desktop.

Create that project, do an immediate build and run.  It opens what looks like a console window.  It does not open a GUI.

I suspect the basic looping function to service a GUI is not present.

Look in Solution Explorer -> Header Files, Resource files, Source Files and there is nothing that looks like a blank GUI to edit. 

Look in Resource view -> Dialog and the only item there is only IDD_ABOUTBOX

Looking through all the template options does not reveal anything that looks like I need.

What are the steps to create an application with a GUI?  A GUI that can be edited with the “Toolbox” and drag and drop tools?

Answer 1

If you wait for Visual Studio 2019 to finish everything (including background tasks) when it creates a new Windows Desktop Application the following is what you should see after expanding the Header Files, Resource Files and Source Files nodes in Solution Explorer.

I suggest you completely delete whatever you were previously working with and try again. Before attempting to Build and Run the project post a screenshot identical to the above so we can see what you are working with.

Answer 2

Hi,

The basic GUI project:
Windows Desktop Application

It opens what looks like a console window.

Can you provide more information, a screenshot of the running program. There may be multiple projects in the solution and the GUI project is not executed.

GUI editing is available for dialog box instead of Window.

You may need MFC Dialog based project.

Best regards,

Minxin Yu

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Answer 3

What are the steps to create an application with a GUI? A GUI that can be edited with the “Toolbox” and drag and drop tools?

You can also use C++/CLI with WinForms, where you can drag/drop controls on the main Form, as explained in the archived thread : Create C++ Windows Forms application in Visual Studio 2017

(it works too with other VS versions)

Answer 4

Several years ago, I very distinctly remember using VS C++ such that it created a default and simple Windows / GUI project.  Without writing any code or adding any extensions, the selected project template opened up a GUI ready to use.  I then opened the "Toolbox," dragged some controls on the GUI, compiled, ran, and there they were.  All the support software to monitor for things such as button clicks was already present. Where do I find such a project in VS 2019?  Do I need to upgrade to something later?

Answer 5

It sounds like you had created an MFC dialog-based application.

Open the Visual Studio Installer and click Modify to display the installed workloads.

Under the "Installation Details" pane expand the node for "Desktop Development with C++".

Select the two components (MFC/ATL) as highlighted in the image below and install them.

When the installer has finished, close it.

Now you should be able to run VS2019 and see the choice for "MFC App" when you want to create a new project. While the new project is being created in the MFC Application Type window choose "Dialog based" in the Application type dropdown as highlighted in the image below. When the new project creation is complete you should have what you want

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