What are the major changes from Visual C++ 4.2 to 5.0?

Microsoft Visual C++ version 5.0 includes the following new features and tools:

C++ Language

Compiler, Linker, and NMAKE

AppWizard

MFC

Active Template Library (ATL) 2.1

For information on features that have been added or changed since ATL version 1.1, see What's New in ATL 2.1.

C Runtime Library

ANSI Standard C++ Library

These libraries now conform to the ANSI C++ (X3J16) Working Paper dated September 24, 1996, ANSI Doc No. X3J16/96-0178 WG21/N0996. This paper was produced by the Stockholm meeting of July 1996.

OLE DB

OLE DB is a set of OLE interfaces that provide applications with uniform access to data stored in diverse information sources. These interfaces support the amount of database functionality appropriate to the data source, enabling it to share its data.

The OLE DB Software Development Kit (SDK) is a set of software components, tools, and documentation designed to help you in developing OLE DB consumers and providers for the Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 operating systems.

ERRLOOK - Look Up System Error Messages

This utility enables you look up system error messages, including OLE HRESULTs, by their value. You can drag and drop error values from the debugger, or copy and paste, or type them in. You can enter values in hexadecimal or decimal format. The error message text that ERRLOOK returns can be copied and pasted to other applications. ERRLOOK  has context-sensitive help that describes how to use the utility.

New Sample Programs

Visual C++ 5.0 ships with several new samples. For more information, see the Samples home page.

Features Only in the Enterprise Edition

These features are supported only in Visual C++ Enterprise Edition. For more information, see Visual C++ Editions.

Microsoft Visual C++ version 5.0 Enterprise Edition provides the following new features and tools for developing and validating enterprise applications:

Features New to the Developer Studio Shell

Note   In version 5.0, the shell for Visual C++ was called Developer Studio.

Developer Studio includes the following new features: