X3501 'main': entrypoint not found when compiling DirectX11 .hlsl shaders in VS2015 - c++

Question

I am trying to follow this tutorial: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/gaming/creating-shaders-and-drawing-primitives
I added two files, named SimplePixelShader.hlsl and `SimpleVertexShader.hlsl to my project with the contents below:
On each file, I went into (Right click file->Properties),
Set it to proper configuration (Debug X64) and changed the fields:
General->Excluded From build = blank
General->Content = blank
General->Item Type = HLSL Compiler
HLSL Compiler->Entrypoint Name = blank (deleted main)
HLSL Compiler->Shader Type = Pixel Shader (/ps)
HLSL Compiler->Shader Model = Shader Model 4 Level 9_1 (/4_0_level_9_1)
All Options->Shader Type = Pixel Shader (/ps)
All Options->Entrypoint Name = blank (deleted main)
All Options->Shader Model = Shader Model 4 Level 9_1 (/4_0_level_9_1)
And then made the sam echanges with corresponding Vertex Shader entries for the SimpleVertexShader.hlsl
But no matter what I try, I still get the same error when compiling:
X3501 'main':entrypoint not found
How is this possible if I deleted the entrypoints from all fields? What am I missing?
Thanks,
SimpleVertexShader.hlsl:
struct VertexShaderInput
{
DirectX::XMFLOAT2 pos : POSITION;
};
struct PixelShaderInput
{
float4 pos : SV_POSITION;
};
PixelShaderInput SimpleVertexShader(VertexShaderInput input)
{
PixelShaderInput vertexShaderOutput;
// For this lesson, set the vertex depth value to 0.5, so it is guaranteed to be drawn.
vertexShaderOutput.pos = float4(input.pos, 0.5f, 1.0f);
return vertexShaderOutput;
}
Here is the code in SimplePixelShader.hlsl:
struct PixelShaderInput
{
float4 pos : SV_POSITION;
};
float4 SimplePixelShader(PixelShaderInput input) : SV_TARGET
{
// Draw the entire triangle yellow.
return float4(1.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
}

Answer 1

Ok I did some testing, it seems that when you leave the Entrypoint Name field blank, it tries to use main. Instead I just typed in SimpleVertexShader and SimplePixelShader accordingly, and they both compiled. Thanks

Answer 2

I can add this for DX-12: when you use more than 1 shader file, I found consistent hurdles with the VS-2019 HLSL Compiler. This "main" error message always appears when 2 files both use "HLSL Compiler" . You can set the entry points to avoid it, but then, the program won't be able to compile your shader at runtime, for some reason.
Consider to skip things alltogether: just replace the type "HLSL Compiler" into an unassigned (default) "Custom Build tool". That will (by default) just copy your HLSL next to your exe-application. In DX-12 you'll compile the shader yourself with D3DCompileFromFile(), so there will be no issue in the end.