PRB: Errors When Edit Bitmaps with More than 16 or 256 Colors

ID: Q132705

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The 16-bit Resource Editor (AppStudio) generates the following message while attempting to edit a bitmap that contains more than 16 colors:

Cannot open bitmap for editing.
Unsupported color resolution.
The 32-bit Resource Editor with Visual C++, version 4.0, (for the 32-bit version Resource Editor) generates the following message while attempting to edit a bitmap that contains more than 256 colors:
Only 2-, 16-, and 256-color bitmaps are supported.
The 32-bit Resource Editor with Visual C++, versions 5.0 and 6.0, generates the following message while attempting to import or edit a bitmap with more than 256 colors:
The bitmap has been imported correctly, however because it contains
more than 256 colors it cannot be loaded in the bitmap editor.


CAUSE

The Resource Editor for the 16-bit versions cannot display or edit bitmaps that contain more than 16 colors, and the Resource Editor for the 32-bit versions cannot display or edit bitmaps that contain more than 256 colors.


RESOLUTION

Choose another graphics editor such as PBRUSH.EXE (Paintbrush) in the Accessories group on Windows and Windows NT or MSPAINT.EXE (Paint) from the Accessories folder on Windows 95 to create or edit the offending bitmaps. Then import them into the resource script.

NOTE: Once you import the picture into the resource file, you will not be able to edit it or display it.

With Visual C++, versions 5.0 and 6.0, the bitmap can be converted into 256 colors by following these steps:

  1. Copy the offending bitmap in another graphics program.


  2. In the Resource Editor, insert a new bitmap.


  3. On the Edit menu, click Paste.


  4. The bitmap appears in more than 256 colors.


  5. Close the bitmap.


  6. Reopen the bitmap and it contains only 256 colors.



STATUS

This behavior is by design.


MORE INFORMATION

The 16-bit AppStudio cannot display bitmaps that have more than 16 colors. Sometimes, as a result of this, you will notice that when the file is open for display, AppStudio might automatically change the colors to their closest 16-color approximations without warning you. This limitation depends on which version of Microsoft Visual C++ you use. For example, versions 1.5 and above prompt you, while version 1.0 provides no warning. If the change takes effect, the bitmap is changed to 16 colors; it cannot be changed back to 256 colors.

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, allows you to edit bitmaps that contain up to 256 colors. If your video resolution supports more than 256 colors, you will see one of these error messages:

<bitmap file path> Cannot load file. The current display device does not
support palettes which are required for editing 256-color bitmaps.
-or-
<bitmap file path> Cannot load file. The Video driver does not support
enough colors to load this image.
NOTE: To be able to edit out-of-range bitmaps using Visual C++, 32-bit edition, make sure 256 Colors is selected in the Color Palette combo box in the Display Applet of the Control Panel.

Additional query words: 1.50 2.00 2.10 4.00 3.11 3.1 3.10 App Studio 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbResourceEd kbVC kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbGrpDSTools 
Version           : 1.50 1.51 1.52 | 2.00 2.10 4.00 5.00 6.00
Platform          : NT WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1999