DX11 DirectInput8Create causing LNK2019 error - c++

Question

I'm trying to create a GPU rendered particle system, and it uses this input class to handle mouse/keyboard input.
The issue is the line;
HRESULT result = DirectInput8Create(.....);
causes a LNK2019: Unresolved External Symbol error. I've included the necessary files, so I'm not sure why this is happening. Below is the Input.h and Input.cpp files respectively.
INPUT.H file
#ifndef _INPUT_
#define _INPUT_
#include <stdafx.h>
#include <dinput.h>
class Input{
private:
IDirectInputDevice8* _DIKeyboard;
IDirectInputDevice8* _DIMouse;
LPDIRECTINPUT8 _directInput;
LONG _mouseXabsolute, _mouseYabsolute, _mouseZabsolute;
LONG _mouseXrelative, _mouseYrelative, _mouseZrelative;
BYTE _keyboardState[256];
BYTE _leftMouseButton, _rightMouseButton;
int _screenWidth, _screenHeight;
HWND _hWnd;
POINT _point;
RECT _rect;
public:
Input();
~Input();
void unload();
bool initializeInput(HINSTANCE hInstance, HWND hWnd, int screenWidth, int screenHeight);
void updateInput();
BYTE* getKeyboardState();
LONG getMouseXRelative();
LONG getMouseYRelative();
LONG getMouseZRelative();
LONG getMouseXAbsolute();
LONG getMouseYAbsolute();
LONG getMouseZAbsolute();
BYTE getLeftMouseClick();
BYTE getRightMouseClick();
};
#endif
INPUT.CPP File
#include <stdafx.h>
#include <Input.h>
#define DIRECTINPUT_VERSION 0x0800
#include <dinput.h>
using namespace std;
Input::Input() : _DIKeyboard(), _DIMouse(), _directInput(), _point(), _rect(){
_mouseXabsolute = _mouseYabsolute = 0;
_mouseZabsolute = 1;
_mouseXrelative = _mouseXrelative = _mouseXrelative = 0;
}
Input::~Input(){
unload();
}
void Input::unload(){
if (_DIKeyboard) _DIKeyboard->Release();
if (_DIMouse) _DIMouse->Release();
if (_directInput) _directInput->Release();
}
bool Input::initializeInput(HINSTANCE hInstance, HWND hWnd, int screenWidth, int screenHeight){
_screenWidth = screenWidth;
_screenHeight = screenHeight;
_hWnd = hWnd;
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////Create direct input, keyboard and mouse devices///////////////////////////////////////////////////
HRESULT result = DirectInput8Create(hInstance, DIRECTINPUT_VERSION, IID_IDirectInput8, (void**)&_directInput, NULL);
if (FAILED(result)){
MessageBox(0, L"Could not create direct input!", L"Error", MB_OK);
return false;
}
...
...
...
}
I'd appreciate any help to solve this issue.

Answer 1

You should link to dinput8.lib static library:
#pragma comment(lib, "dinput8")
Besides, you should consider using Raw input APIs instead of DirectInput: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms645536(v=vs.85).aspx