(C++17; Boost) CMake unable to find the requested Boost libraries - c++

Question

I am new to C++ and want to include the boost library (specifically the filesystem part which needs to be built) in my project. I tried many solutions from other stackoverflow users but they didn't help me at all. I am using CLion with CMake.
The main.cpp is calling the other .cpp files inside the modules/ folder.
The file structure:
ProjectName
>boost
>lots of folders and .hpp files
>cmake-build-debug
>modules
encryption.cpp
encryption.h
output.cpp
output.h
CMakeLists.txt
main.cpp
The boost folder doesn't contain the entirety of boost when you download and extract it. I dragged the boost folder inside of boost_1_72_0 in my project (just so you know that there's no libs folder, etc. inside)
The CMakeLists.txt
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14)
project(ProjectName)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc")
set(SOURCE_FILES
main.cpp
modules/encryption.cpp modules/encryption.h modules/output.cpp modules/output.h
)
set(Boost_ARCHITECTURE -x64)
set(BOOST_ROOT boost/)
set(Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS boost/filesystem)
find_package(Boost COMPONENTS system filesystem REQUIRED)
if(Boost_FOUND)
include_directories(${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})
endif()
add_executable(ProjectName ${SOURCE_FILES})
target_link_libraries(ProjectName ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
output.cpp
// some includes //
#define BOOST_FILESYSTEM_NO_DEPRECATED
#include "../boost/filesystem.hpp"
// some code //
The Error message:
CMake Error at C:/Program Files/JetBrains/CLion 2019.1.4/bin/cmake/win/share/cmake-3.14/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:2147 (message):
Unable to find the requested Boost libraries.
Unable to find the Boost header files. Please set BOOST_ROOT to the root
directory containing Boost or BOOST_INCLUDEDIR to the directory containing
Boost's headers.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
CMakeLists.txt:15 (find_package)
-- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
See also "C:/Users/username/Desktop/C++/ProjectName/cmake-build-debug/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
mingw32-make.exe: *** [cmake_check_build_system] Error 1
Makefile:235: recipe for target 'cmake_check_build_system' failed
I know that it's basically telling me what I have to do but I don't know what's exactly meant by the "root directory" of boost, by the directory "containing Boost's headers" and how to put everything together.
Many thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I dragged the boost folder inside of boost_1_72_0 in my project
Looks like you just copied boost source into your project dir.
You have to compile boost since you need filesystem. Or you can get boost from:
vcpkg - it's the easiest way for you. I am highly recommended this way.
Sourceforge.
Conan
I don't know what's exactly meant by the "root directory"...
Since you are using boost by calling find_package(Boost) - CMake uses FindBoost module. It will try to find your boost installation inside system PATH variable or in some other "standard" places. Your boost "installation" is not common, so you have to specify where boost is with BOOST_ROOT variable. set(BOOST_ROOT boost/) is incorrect way to do this. You have to specify absolute path like set(BOOST_ROOT "C:/lib/boost/boost17.2")
or relative to current CMakeList.txt - set(BOOST_ROOT ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/boost}.
With right installed boost all you have to do is:
find_package(Boost REQUIRED [COMPONENTS <libs>...])
target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
target_include_directories(main PRIVATE ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})

Answer 2

Usually, you don't need to set Boost_ARCHITECTURE and Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS CMake does it for you.
When you use find_package with REQUIRED option you don't need to check whether the library found or not since CMake raises an error when a library isn't found.
BOOST_ROOT is a directory when boost installed or unpacked.
BOOST_INCLUDEDIR is a directory with boost headers (usually it's BOOST_ROOT/boost). So try to set the full path to your boost_1_72_0 directory to BOOST_ROOT CMake variable.
Also, I had a problem with COMPONENTS option. Try to remove it if errors remain.