Each version of Visual Studio comes with a specific version of the MFC framework, but I believe MFC SDK can be downloaded separately. Since MFC is just C++, is there any reason you couldn't use the latest version with an older version of VC++... I don't mean trying to get the ribbon working in MSVC++ 6, But we're on VS2005 and some of the newer MFC features would be useful.
A:
I've never heard about anyone using older versions of the compiler with new MFC's. I'm not even sure it would work out of the box, think e.g. about the for loop scoping changes in the previous VS version. I'd be very surprised about MS-sanctioned descriptions of getting MFC to work with VC Express - after all if they wanted people to do that, why wouldn't they just bundle MFC with VC Express?
Besides, cherry-picking MFC components was never really possible; over time, ATL and MFC CString were merged, they probably had to make changes in the rest of MFC/ATL to make that work.
My conclusion & opinion: very unlikely this will be easy to get to work.
Roel
2010-04-09 13:19:37
I definitely remember a MSDN page that told you how to do it for VC++ Express 2005/8 9I forget which)m it was even linked from the Express page IIRC. I think it was either to download the Windows Platform SDK, or the DDK. I'm _sure_ it worked!
John
2010-04-09 15:37:57
MFC was never in the SDK or the DDK, it has always been bundled only with VS. I'm not sure if you're talking about getting Express to use the MFC from an earlier VS that you had bought in full, but there was never a way to get MFC just from free downloads.
Roel
2010-04-09 15:51:31
Now I'm thoroughly confused. All I can think is it was the bare Win32 SDK, since I can't find it I'll take your word for it. BUT, does this mean MS uses MFC to lock other compiler writers out of Windows development, as their proprietary technology?
John
2010-04-12 16:06:07