C++ IMG_LoadTexture() returns null - c++

Question

I'm trying to load a image("carnero.png") but when I use IMG_LoadTexture(), it returns null;
Game.h
#ifndef GAME_H_
#define GAME_H_
#include <SDL.h>
#include <SDL_image.h>
#include <windows.h>
class Game {
public:
Game();
~Game();
void run();
void initGraphics();
void gameLoop();
private:
SDL_Window* _window = nullptr;
SDL_Renderer* _renderer;
SDL_Surface* _surfaceBMP;
SDL_Texture* _textureScenario;
SDL_Texture* _textureCarnero;
SDL_Rect* _scenarioRect;
SDL_Rect* _carneroRect;
int _width;
int _height;
bool _running;
};
#endif /* SRC_GAME_H_ */
Game.cpp
#include "Game.h"
#include <iostream>
Game::Game(){
_running = true;
run();
}
Game::~Game(){
}
void Game::run(){
initGraphics();
gameLoop();
}
void Game::initGraphics(){
SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
IMG_Init(IMG_INIT_PNG);
_window = SDL_CreateWindow("Carneiro", SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, 1024, 768, SDL_WINDOW_SHOWN);
if(_window == nullptr) exit(1);
_renderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(_window, -1, SDL_RENDERER_ACCELERATED);
_surfaceBMP = SDL_LoadBMP("textures/scenario.bmp");
_textureScenario = SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface(_renderer, _surfaceBMP);
SDL_FreeSurface(_surfaceBMP);
_textureCarnero = IMG_LoadTexture(_renderer, "/textures/carnero2.png");
if(_textureCarnero == nullptr) exit(1);
_scenarioRect->x = 0; _scenarioRect->w = 1024;
_scenarioRect->y = 0; _scenarioRect->h = 740;
_carneroRect->x = 20; _carneroRect->w = 150;
_carneroRect->y = 100; _carneroRect->h = 100;
}
void Game::gameLoop(){
while(_running){
Sleep(10);
SDL_Event evnt;
if(SDL_PollEvent(&evnt)){
switch(evnt.type){
case SDL_QUIT:
_running = false;
break;
}
}
SDL_RenderClear(_renderer);
SDL_RenderCopy(_renderer, _textureScenario, nullptr, _scenarioRect);
// SDL_QueryTexture(_textureCarnero, NULL, NULL, &_carneroRect->x, &_carneroRect->y);
SDL_RenderCopy(_renderer, _textureCarnero, nullptr, _carneroRect);
SDL_RenderPresent(_renderer);
}
SDL_DestroyTexture(_textureScenario);
SDL_DestroyTexture(_textureCarnero);
SDL_DestroyRenderer(_renderer);
SDL_DestroyWindow(_window);
SDL_Quit();
IMG_Quit();
}
This function returns null
_textureCarnero = IMG_LoadTexture(_renderer, "/textures/carnero2.png");
But when I use SDL_LoadBMP() to load the background it works. I tried putting my .png in other folders but it doesn't work either. I also tried to load my .png using IMG_LOAD() but i had no sucess.

Answer 1

Your path is incorrect. /textures/carnero2.png will search for a file in C:\textures\carnero2.png, or /textures/carnero2.png on unix.
You can solve this problem as follows:
Use full (absolute) path: C:\Program Files (x86)\MyGame\textures\carnero2.png, /usr/local/share/mygame/textures/carnero2.png
Add a dot ./textures/carnero2.png
Remove the slash: textures/carnero2.png.

Answer 2

The path to your input file is probably incorrect:
/textures/carnero2.png
should probably be
textures/carnero2.png
like in the previous (working) load command.
In the future, I suggest that you test for file existence before trying to load the file. So you can separate "file not found" errors from real format/corrupt file problems.