CODEWITHSUNDEEP
visual-c++visual-studio-2008mfcresource-editor
GrinderZ
GrinderZ

Reputation: 664

VS2008: "Resource file opened in another editor"

But it's a lie!

Good day to all! I have the following problem: when I try to open the resource file PriceCalculationUI.rc Visual Studio 2008 tells me that the file is opened in another editor (in vs2008 I have only 1 opened tab with .cpp file). I checked this information: run Process Explorer and searched for PriceCalculationUI handle. In results I found nothing but devenv.exe that uses PriceCalculationUI directory.

What can I do next?

Thanks for any help!

Additional information: when I rebuild (not build) the project I see dialog window with information that file PriceCalculationUI.rc was edited by another program.

Upvotes: 30

Views: 37959

Answers (16)

ehmunnehm
ehmunnehm

Reputation: 730

Had the same problem but it had nothing to do with the file being actually open. There was an error in the file because I manually edited it. But even after undoing my edits the error was still there. Afterwards I had to delete the hidden ".vs" folder next to the ".sln" file. After that it was working again.

Upvotes: 0

bauertschi
bauertschi

Reputation: 11

A simple way for me (VS2022) is to right-click on a source-tab and select the "Close all but this Tab" option. Visual Studio then properly closes the file. But I also only have the problem when I edited an .rc-file... .

Upvotes: 1

frankiie
frankiie

Reputation: 498

For those who just encountered this issue, if you've tried all the above workarounds without success, just close all documents and reopen. the issue should be resolved

Upvotes: 0

Aarbona
Aarbona

Reputation: 1

I had this issue.

CoderMarks solution solved it for me.

Upvotes: 0

cpp_learner
cpp_learner

Reputation: 382

Today I encounterd the same issue and here is how I solved my problem.

Root Cause: I opened 'Resource.h' file from my solution and its currently in open state in my VS editor. When this file is open, it can't allow me to access the .rc file in resource view.("opened in another editor message is thrown)

Resolution: Simply I closed the Resource.h file in the VS editor tab then the .rc file open properly.

Hope it helps, if you have same problem.

Upvotes: 1

ThE_JacO
ThE_JacO

Reputation: 101

Something not mentioned in any answer but that I encountered today:

If you have a breakpoint in the resource header file the related resource file is considered in use. Removing the breakpoint was all that was needed for everything to work again

Upvotes: 0

CoderMark
CoderMark

Reputation: 1

It turns out that related resource include files (ex: resource1.h ) must also be closed, So...

  • make sure that the VersionResource.rc is not open
  • make sure that all related resource files are not open
  • collapse the tree in the Resource View pane
  • re-expand the tree in the Resource View pane
  • (hopefully) observe that the error is gone

Upvotes: 0

Heribert Scharnagl
Heribert Scharnagl

Reputation: 147

This is the only way that works for me (Visual Studio 2015)
1) Open project with locked resource file
2) Close all open files of the project in Visual Studio.
3) Close Visual Studio
4) Start Visual Studio and reopen the project
5) Done. The resource file is unlocked...

Upvotes: 3

Angus Comber
Angus Comber

Reputation: 9708

This worked for me:

  1. close all instances of Visual Studio
  2. delete project .aps file.
  3. re-open project.

If above doesn't work, for step 2, delete all project temp vs files.

Upvotes: -1

Yogesh Gat
Yogesh Gat

Reputation: 21

Just open .rc file manually in visual studio

Right click on .rc file and click on Open

Upvotes: 2

bruce
bruce

Reputation: 1316

  1. Close all projects in VS.
  2. Close the VS.
  3. Reopen VS with blank project.
  4. Open resource file solely.

Upvotes: 1

Libor B.
Libor B.

Reputation: 509

Close all opened files in VS. Then I am able to open rc file.

Upvotes: 3

Ian
Ian

Reputation: 111

Here is another possibility - that you have manually edited the resource.h file, say to add a new #define, but omitted to update _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE, for example, to define a new control, I added the line

#define IDC_LIST_MAINWIN 1003

but forgot to amend the line

#define _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE 1003

to

#define _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE 1004

Once I made the change, the problem disappeared.

Upvotes: 0

user2825261
user2825261

Reputation: 221

If you encounter this issue, you will need to:

  1. close .rc, resource.h files opened inside Visual Studio and outside.
  2. collapse items in VS "Resource View" tab to give VS a chance to refresh.
  3. Try to expand .rc again from "Resource View" tab

The reason VS gives this error, I believe is that VS will automatically update these files. If you open any of these file in an editor, VS thinks there will a chance for conflict. So it gives you an error. Sometime it is a little misleading because VS appears don't know the .rc, and resource.h files are opened by itself. VS shoots itself's foot in this case.

Upvotes: 22

GrinderZ
GrinderZ

Reputation: 664

Problem solved: PriceCalculationUI.rc was opened in VS2008 text editor (right button click on file in solution explorer --> View code) then it was saved and closed. That's all! When I restart VS2008 problem comes back but I know what to do. May be it due to Visual Assist X? I don't know.

P.S.: Thanks for your replies: communion leads to action!

Upvotes: 8

Edward Clements
Edward Clements

Reputation: 5132

I have had problems with this error (also in Visual Studio 2010) even when I don't have the .rc file / resource.h file open.

The only way to fix this for me was to manually open both files in the text editor (sometimes I get a msg box "The document '[path]\resource.h' is already open. Do you want to close it? which I answer with Yes), close both the files and try to open the resource file in the resource view.

This MS Connect page suggests closing the solution, deleting the .suo file and reopening the solution.

Upvotes: 29

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