Dialog-based vs. SDI: VC++

The dialog base framework doesn't come with Menu support, and it's harder to add database support for it.

Also without the document/view architecture support, it's harder to setup your application for opening and closeing  files.
It's also harder to add ActiveX support, and Automation.

If you have a simple applications that does not require menus, opening and closeing documents, ActiveX, and database support, a Dialog base application would be the better choice.

It's easier to setup, initialize, and debug.

This is pice of WinMain in dialog based app where accelerators used and menu also, but no toolbar. I never
use it in my simple applications, but probably it,s
possible also.

  wcl.hInstance=hInst;
  wcl.lpszClassName=szHostName;
  wcl.lpfnWndProc=Dlg1Proc;
  wcl.style=0;
  wcl.hIcon = LoadIcon(hInst, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDI_ICON1));
  wcl.hCursor=LoadCursor(NULL,IDC_ARROW);
  wcl.lpszMenuName= "IDM_MENU1";
  wcl.cbClsExtra=IDD_DIALOG1;
  wcl.cbWndExtra=DLGWINDOWEXTRA ;
  wcl.hbrBackground= (HBRUSH)GetStockObject(LTGRAY_BRUSH);
  if(!RegisterClass (&wcl))return 0;
  // in .rc file allocated menu IDM_MENU1 and
  // accelerators IDM_MENU1 also
  hAccel= LoadAccelerators(hInst,MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDM_MENU1));
  hwnd= CreateDialog(hInst,MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_DIALOG1), hInst,0);
  while (GetMessage (&msg,NULL,0,0))
 {
  if( !TranslateAccelerator (hwnd,hAccel, &msg))
     { TranslateMessage (&msg);DispatchMessage (&msg); }
 }

>>never use it in my simple applications, but probably
>>it,s possible also.
It's possible to add almost all the stuff that is in the SDI.
The difference is that the SDI already comes with the support, and in the Dialog App, you have to add it.

Forgot, plase not forget to define a class string in dialog template.
//as a text in rc file it looks:
IDD_DIALOG1 DIALOGEX 0, 0, 309, 73
.....
CLASS "Some_your_class_name"
......

This is pice of WinMain in dialog based app where accelerators used and menu also, but no toolbar. I never
use it in my simple applications, but probably it,s
possible also.

  wcl.hInstance=hInst;
  wcl.lpszClassName=szHostName;
  wcl.lpfnWndProc=Dlg1Proc;
  wcl.style=0;
  wcl.hIcon = LoadIcon(hInst, MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDI_ICON1));
  wcl.hCursor=LoadCursor(NULL,IDC_ARROW);
  wcl.lpszMenuName= "IDM_MENU1";
  wcl.cbClsExtra=IDD_DIALOG1;
  wcl.cbWndExtra=DLGWINDOWEXTRA ;
  wcl.hbrBackground= (HBRUSH)GetStockObject(LTGRAY_BRUSH);
  if(!RegisterClass (&wcl))return 0;
  // in .rc file allocated menu IDM_MENU1 and
  // accelerators IDM_MENU1 also
  hAccel= LoadAccelerators(hInst,MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDM_MENU1));
  hwnd= CreateDialog(hInst,MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_DIALOG1), hInst,0);
  while (GetMessage (&msg,NULL,0,0))
 {
  if( !TranslateAccelerator (hwnd,hAccel, &msg))
     { TranslateMessage (&msg);DispatchMessage (&msg); }
 }