How do I create a C++ library in VS 2008? - c++

I am working in VS 2008 and have several C++ projects and want to build my own library to share across projects. The first project is called "Project 1".
I created the library as a separate Win 32 project, and chose DLL. I added a reference in Project 1 to the library using "Add reference". I also added an "Additional reference search path". I added #include "Library.h" to the top of the cpp file for Project 1.
However, I am getting the error: fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'Library.h': No such file or directory.
How do I do this?
Thanks!

In Visual C++'s terms, referencing a project does not add it to include search path (this is a paradigm shift from .NET). Because in C++, include can do all sorts of things -- you can even #include <not_even_a_c_file.txt>, for example.
Anyway, the quick solution for you is to also add the include path to Project 1. You can find it under Project Properties > C++ > General. You need to add the path to Project 2 under "Additional Include Directories".

If the projects are in separate folders, you may have you do something like:
#include "../libproject/Library.h"

Related

create dll out of yaml-cpp source code

Newbie to windows. I need to use yaml-cpp library in a project, but I can't seem to compile it in windows. I tried everything (everhthing!) I could find but no place have the full answer, just tips for the process. but those tips don't help so much.
I did create shared lib in Ubuntu but can't create dll in windows.
can someone give the full explanation to get dll from source code?
(I also be grateful for explanation of how use the dll with it's includes).
Working with visual studio 2015.
So finally I got it.
for linux users - use cmake. for windows users - you can but I really don't recommend it unless you need cross compiling. Use visual studio: (explained for VS 2017)
First create new project with existing code.
The folder you pick should be "src" (in case of cpp-yaml).
When creating the project you need to choose type of project (exe, dynamic or static library), so choose dynamic library to create .dll or static to create .lib.
After creating your project go to your project properties, go to c/c++ tab --> General --> "additional include directories", and add your path to the headers folder ("include"). Do not add "cpp-yaml" inside the include folder, only "include".
Now build. In the console you can see where the library was created.
To use it, in case you made static library 4 things need to be done:
add to your project "#include cpp-yaml/yaml.h"
in properties:
in tab "c/c++" --> General --> "additional include directories", add the include folder path. (as before)
in tab "Linker" -->Input, add to the "Additional dependencies" your lib name (followed by semi-colon)
in tab "Linker" --> General, add to "additional library directories" the path to your lib.

Using header files with multiple projects in same solution

I'm using C++ and visual studio 2015. I've created 2 projects in 1 solution. The first project is a static library and the other a DLL. I want to include one header file from the static library to use it in the DLL. I tried specifying the path to the header file with - Project->Properties->C/C++ -> General -> Additional include directories but it doesn't work. When I try to include the header file I get a red underline saying "cannot open source file "SomeHeaderFile.h".
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the tips but I found out how to make it work. The DLL is in a extra folder. All I had to do was #include "../../TheHeaderFileThatISpentHoursTryingToGet.h". I deleted the reference in the additional include directories path and it still works. I always thought that it made sense for files from different projects in the same solution to be accessible throughout all the projects. Thanks again.

How do I include Boost libraries?

I'm trying to incorporate the Boost libraries into my program, specifically lexical_cast and geometry. I include them using #include"boost/boost/geometry.hpp" and #include"boost/boost/lexical_cast/lexical_cast_old.hpp".
When I run the code I get the fatal error "Cannot open include file: 'boost/geometry/geometry.hpp': No such file or directory" which leads me to another .hpp file in the Boost library which includes another library, but uses #include<...> instead of #include"...".
When I replace it for "..." the error for this one goes, but it is replaced with the next library included using #include<...> instead of #include"...".
I feel like this could lead me down a rabbit hole of replacing nearly all instances of #include<...> with #include"..." which would take ages. Is there a setting I can change or a piece of code I could include that would sort this out?
Or could I just get rid of all the other unnecessary libraries and change the ones I need (I know that, that would still be a lot as they seem to rely on each other).
I have Boost library version 1.58.0.
First you should read about the difference between #include "filepath" and #include <filepath> here.
Personally, I'm working with Boost from Visual Studio as follows:
Go to Project properties → C/C++ → General → Additional Include Directories, and add a path to the boost library root (in my case C:\Program Files (x86)\Boost_1_53).
Include a .hpp file in your sources, like #include <boost/lexical_cast/lexical_cast_old.hpp>
If you're using non headers-only libraries you should also add path to Boost libraries in Project properties → Linker → General → Additional Libraries Directories.
In Visual Studio 2012, right-click on your project and select "Properties".
In the properties dialog, select "Configuration Properties" and then "VC++ Directories".
You will need to add the Boost include path to the "Include Directories" list.
If you're using all header-only libraries then you're done. Otherwise, you will need to add the Boost library path to "Library Directories".
For example:
Boost library - c:\boost\boost_1_58_0 (run booststrap.bat and b2 as administrator).
Add strings $(THIRD_PARTY)\boost\boost_1_58_0\include and $(THIRD_PARTY)\boost\boost_1_58_0\ to VC++ Directories → Include Directories

Sharing files between projects in Visual C++ 10

I've got a relatively simple setup in Visual Studio 2010- a main application and a DLL it depends on. I have a header that defines it's interface- how can I set up the header to be included in both projects? They are both in the same solution.
See my answer to this question, but its just that you are using a dynamic library.
In summary, the main application project should reference the DLL project for the purposes of linking, and the main project should include folder references so the compiler can access header files.
In the VC different projects are placed in a different subdirectories of the solution dir.
If you want include files from the other project, you need to explicitly add it's dir to the include search path:
right click on the ".exe" project in the solution explorer. Choose properties.
In the property window go to the "C/C++" section.
There is the "Additional Include Directories" property. Add your "dll" project directory there.

DLL References in Visual C++

I have had C++ experience but not MSVC.
What I am trying to do is incorporate a .dll from an open source project into my project. The code is available and I have built it. I have the .dll as well as the .lib which as I understand it is required for C++ projects.
Now unfortunately there is no simple "Add Reference", drop my .dll into an include directory and add that to my solution. I have edited the project property pages, the C/C++ Additional Include Directories option as well as adding the .lib as an additional linker dependency. I have created an include directory for the dll and lib inside my solution tree.
My problem is when I try to include the header files from the documentation, VS output spits out error messages. Now I realize that I am using the dll/lib combo and that the .h files are not present in my solution so how do I add the proper includes? I am using QT toolkit also which is working but how I add the other header / dll from the open source library eludes me.
Can someone please point me in the right direction.
You need to do a couple of things to use the library:
Make sure that you have both the *.lib and the *.dll from the library you want to use. If you don't have the *.lib, skip #2
Put a reference to the *.lib in the project. Right click the project name in the Solution Explorer and then select Configuration Properties->Linker->Input and put the name of the lib in the Additional Dependencies property.
You have to make sure that VS can find the lib you just added so you have to go to the Tools menu and select Options... Then under Projects and Solutions select VC++ Directories,edit Library Directory option. From within here you can set the directory that contains your new lib by selecting the 'Library Files' in the 'Show Directories For:' drop down box. Just add the path to your lib file in the list of directories. If you dont have a lib you can omit this, but while your here you will also need to set the directory which contains your header files as well under the 'Include Files'. Do it the same way you added the lib.
After doing this you should be good to go and can use your library. If you dont have a lib file you can still use the dll by importing it yourself. During your applications startup you can explicitly load the dll by calling LoadLibrary (see: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms684175(VS.85).aspx for more info)
Cheers!
EDIT
Remember to use #include < Foo.h > as opposed to #include "foo.h". The former searches the include path. The latter uses the local project files.
The additional include directories are relative to the project dir. This is normally the dir where your project file, *.vcproj, is located. I guess that in your case you have to add just "include" to your include and library directories.
If you want to be sure what your project dir is, you can check the value of the $(ProjectDir) macro. To do that go to "C/C++ -> Additional Include Directories", press the "..." button and in the pop-up dialog press "Macros>>".
You mention adding the additional include directory (C/C++|General) and additional lib dependency (Linker|Input), but have you also added the additional library directory (Linker|General)?
Including a sample error message might also help people answer the question since it's not even clear if the error is during compilation or linking.