This redbook is intended to provide an overview of developing C/C++ applications which utilize Open32 for OS/2 Warp. It describes techniques for building applications which utilize the same common source code that can be compiled and executed on both the OS/2 or Win32 platforms.

In addition to the discussion of developing new applications utilizing Open32, we explore porting existing Windows 32-bit applications and Windows 16-bit applications to the OS/2 environment. Tools that are available to simplify this process are also covered.

Sample programs are provided to illustrate techniques and procedures for writing programs utilizing Open32. Some samples show applications that contain only common source code that will execute on either the OS/2 Warp or Win32 environments, while others are constructed using both common source code and platform dependent source code sections for the OS/2 and Win32 environments.

All the files necessary to build and execute the sample applications covered in this redbook for both the OS/2 and Win32 environments are provided on the CD-ROM that is included with this redbook. Also on the CD-ROM is a BookManager version of this redbook so you can view the redbook electronically.

The sample programs described in this redbook will execute on any OS/2 Warp Version 3 system with Developer API Extensions support from The Developer Connection for OS/2 Volume 10 along with FixPak 17 or higher installed. These programs will also execute on any OS/2 Warp Version 4 system which has the Developer API Extensions support built in and is known as Open32.

This redbook is intended for application development specialists, and system technical specialists, including IBM customers, business partners, BESTeam members, system engineers, consultants, and independent software vendors who are interested in understanding the basic concepts for developing C/C++ applications that utilize Open32 for OS/2 Warp.

Some knowledge of OS/2 C/C++ and the Windows 32-bit applications is assumed.