I am trying to use CImg library for some image processing task. Using VS 2012 on Windows 7 x64, I am building a project to create dll that I need for my application. I have included the only header file CImg.h from the library. But as soon as I initialize an CImg object, I get bunch of unresolved external symbol errors. One sample error is as follows:
layer.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp_SetDIBitsToDevice referenced in function "public: struct cimg_library::CImgDisplay & __cdecl cimg_library::CImgDisplay::paint(void)" (?paint#CImgDisplay#cimg_library##QEAAAEAU12#XZ)
Can anyone explain to me what am I doing wrong and how to fix it? (I am a newbie when it comes to C++ terminologies.)
there is nothing other than the header file in the CImg library to link to.
You cannot link to a header file. If it is a header-only library, then you do not need to link anything. You include the header file and the functions it defines are compiled directly. That appears to be the case for CImg; the documentation says it is a self-contained template library that consists of only a single header file. So indeed, all you need to do is include it and you're off to the races.
The unresolved external symbol errors are coming from somewhere else. You have to read the error messages and look at the function names to see where.
A couple of hints:
The __imp_ prefix suggests that you're looking at a Windows API function.
If you didn't know that, you could always ignore the prefix and Google the readable part of the name, in this case, SetDIBitsToDevice. Chances are very good you'll turn up the documentation or at least something that points you in the right direction.
Indeed, in this case, you get right to Microsoft's SDK documentation for the SetDIBitsToDevice function. It's a Windows API function alright, and Microsoft's documentation always tells you what library you need to link to in order to consume it. Look at the bottom of the page:
Header: Wingdi.h (include Windows.h)
Library: Gdi32.lib
DLL: Gdi32.dll
The CImg library header file has obviously already included the Windows.h header file, or you'd have gotten a compile-time error. You're getting a linker error, which means that you have not told the linker to link in the Gdi32.lib library. This is what will allow you to call GDI functions. It is a stub that facilitates calling functions exported from Gdi32.dll.
In general, when building a Windows application, you will want to link with, at minimum, kernel32.lib, user32.lib, and gdi32.lib.
This question contains more information on dealing with undefined symbol errors, and also how to configure your linker. In Visual Studio, go to Project Properties → C/C++ → Linker → Input → Additional Dependencies. Or add #pragma comment(lib, "gdi32.lib") to a source file (your precompiled header is a good place, usually named StdAfx.h).
This function is part of the win32 API, specifically in GDI. You need to change your project settings to link with Gdi32.lib
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd162974(v=vs.85).aspx
EDIT:
Updated post to avoid linking to third party sites and to collect all required information here.
Any information is appreciated. If you need more info, please inform me and I will edit the post with the new details.
Here is some useful information to start with.
Errors.
Source code.
I am trying to use a third party SDK consisting of one lib file and essentially one header file. I manage to get the intellisense to work, but I get linker errors even though I have modified my project's build.cs file to add the library path.
public OculusTest(TargetInfo Target)
{
PublicDependencyModuleNames.AddRange(new string[] { "Core", "CoreUObject", "Engine", "InputCore" });
// Add static libs
PublicAdditionalLibraries.Add(Path.Combine(ThirdPartyPath, "RPLidar/Libraries", "rplidar_driver.lib"));
// Add a path with the .h that has the function definitions
PublicIncludePaths.Add(Path.Combine(ThirdPartyPath, "RPLidar", "Includes"));
}
I also checked if I was missing something, but in a standalone C++ project I use the same files and only the same files and it does work. The files in question are
RPLidar.h and rplidar_driver.lib
As such I assume the error is in me failing to tell the Unreal compiler where to find the lib file.
Thank you in advance for all information regarding this way too stubborn error.
I finally found my error.
After checking that the same version of VSC++ was used to compile both programs and that I checked that it was in the correct configuration I changed one extra thing that made it all work out.
Instead of compiling to a multi threaded LIB file, I compiled the code as a DLL file.
I did it by opening the LIB project properties and going to C/C++ -> Code Generation -> Runtime Library and setting it to Multithreaded DLL (/MD).
Under General I set the configuration type to be a static library (.lib).
I have a file foo.h that has various declarations for functions. All of these functions are implemented in a file foo.dll. However, when I include the .h file and try to use any of the functions, I get the error:
bar.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol SomeFunction
so obviously the function implementations aren't being found.
What do I have to do to help the compiler find the definitions in the DLL and associate them with the .h file?
I've seen some stuff about __declspec(dllexport) and __declspec(dllimport) but I still can't figure out how to use them.
You should have received at least three files from the DLL owner. The DLL which you'll need at runtime, the .h file with the declarations of the exported functions, you already have that. And a .lib file, the import library for the DLL. Which the linker requires so it knows how to add the functions to the program's import table.
You are missing the step where you told the linker that it needs to link the .lib file. It needs to be added to the linker's Input + Additional Dependencies setting of your project. Or most easily done by writing the linker instruction in your source code:
#include "foo.h"
#pragma comment(lib, "foo.lib")
Which works for MSVC, not otherwise portable but linking never is. Copy the .lib file to your project directory or specify the full path.
I just had a similar problem. The solution turned out to be that the DLL was 64 bit, and the simple app using it was 32. I had forgotten to change it to x64 in the Configuration Manager.
You need to specify in front of function definitions __declspec(dllexport) keyword at the time of building the dll
You need to import or load the .dll file into process memory.
You need to acquire the address of function you want to use from that dll.
Some useful links to get started:: MSDN Documentation, SO, Random
I'm a real beginner and I'm programming in C++ using Visual Studio.
I've a simple cpp code that recalls some functions written in a .c and .h file. I included that file by means of #include directive and the IDE "sees" the function.
When I compile, I get this
Error 7 error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _IMUsendAccelToFIFO referenced in function _main D:\Cprojects\Pencil\Pencil\Pencil.obj Pencil
What am I missing here?
Thank you all!
It is a linker error, not a compiler error. The compiler is happy, it saw the declaration of function in the .h file. The linker isn't, it cannot find the definition of the function.
Add the .c file to your project.
If you get an error in Visual Studio you can actually google for the error code and you will get pretty extensive information for that. In this case, googling LNK2019 gives this MSDN page as first hit, which also provides some examples on how you get the error.
Your vendor should have provided some .lib files for you (usually found in a folder named lib?). Make sure that these are added in the project via:
Project > Properties > Configuration Properties > Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies
You could also see if there is any "get started" information for you from your vendor, which explains which dependencies you have to include in your project.
If you feel unsure of what a compiler and what a linker does, pick up a book that explains it, or browse some free alternatives.
Are you using ghettopilot? that's the only reference I can find on the web to the function you're missing. If you are, then you need to include the .lib file for that library in your link options.
Visual Studio will compile .c files as C and .cpp files as C++ by default, and this can cause trouble because if you want to call functions defined in a .c file from a .cpp file, then you must wrap the header in extern "C" { }, as the compiler will expect all functions not declared extern "C" to be from C++. This is because of an implementation detail called name mangling. Alternatively, you could force all files to be compiled as C or as C++ in the project settings.
Solved! Thank you very much!
The libraries I was using needed to be built. I tried but I couldn't build them as I used to get "heap space" error!
I installed Visual Studio 2005 (with which the code was produced by the vendor) and it worked at first attempt! There are probably some back-compatibility issues..
I am getting this linker error.
mfcs80.lib(dllmodul.obj) : error LNK2005: _DllMain#12 already defined in MSVCRT.lib(dllmain.obj)
Please tell me the correct way of eliminating this bug. I read solution on microsoft support site about this bug but it didnt helped much.
I am using VS 2005 with Platform SDK
I had the same error message, but none of the answers here solved it for me.
So if you Encounter that Problem when creating a DLL Project that uses MFC, it can be resolved by entering the following line:
extern "C" { int _afxForceUSRDLL; }
to the cpp file where DllMain is defined. Then your own DllMain implementation is used, rather than the one from dllmain.obj.
When we try to use MFC library, we surely will include afx.h directly
or indirectly, then MFC(afx.h) tell the linker to find the symbol of
__afxForceUSRDLL and put that object which contains __afxForceUSRDLL into the program, so linker searches and puts dllmodule.obj into our
program, because __afxForceUSRDLL is defined in dllmodule.cpp.
That’s the common scenario. When we want to use our own DllMain in a
mfc dll project, linker complains that there are two DllMain, one in
our code, one in Dllmodule.obj.
So we need to tell the linker to add our dllmain.obj for
__afxForceUSRDLL. So we need to define __afxForceUSRDLL in our own cpp file where our own DllMain is defined, then the linker will ignore
mfc’s dllmodule.obj and see only one DllMain and never complains.
Source: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/0d78aa6b-1e87-4c01-a4a7-691335b7351a/how-to-build-mfc-application-dll-in-visual-c-2010
If you read the linker error thoroughly, and apply some knowledge, you may get there yourself:
The linker links a number of compiled objects and libraries together to get a binary.
Each object/library describes
what symbols it expects to be present in other objects
what symbols it defines
If two objects define the same symbol, you get exactly this linker error. In your case, both mfcs80.lib and MSVCRT.lib define the _DllMain#12 symbol.
Getting rid of the error:
find out which of both libraries you actually need
find out how to tell the linker not to use the other one (using e.g. the tip from James Hopkin)
If you're defining your own DllMain, in your project settings you need to set 'Use of MFC' in the 'Configuration Properties/General' to 'Use Standard Windows Libraries'.
You should do a clean rebuild after changing it.
In my project I was able to solve this problem by adding mfcs80.lib and msvcrt.lib as additional dependencies in the project settings. The 'additional dependencies' can be found under Linker -> Input.
In the debug configuration that would have to be mfcs80d.lib and msvcrtd.lib respectively.
By the way, I am working with Visual Studio 2010, so in my case the MFC lib is called mfc100.lib.
I am not sure why this worked. It is not necessary to add these lib files as additional dependencies because I already set 'Use of MFC' to 'Use MFC in a shared dll'. I guess that by specifying these libraries as additional dependencies they are linked in a different order.
This solution is more or less the same as the one suggested on the Microsoft site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/148652, except I did not need to type anything in the 'Ignore specific default libraries' box.
For me the direct cause was indeed a missing _afxForceUSRDLL symbol reference, but the indirect cause was a missing _USRDLL macro definition. It is defined by default by the VC wizard, but occasionally devs erase it erroneously.
Here it is in more words.
MSDN knowledge base ID Q148652.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/148652
Cause:
Visual C++ compiles the source files in alphabetical order, and passes the compiled object files to the linker in alphabetical order.
If the linker processes DLLDATAX.OBJ first, the source code references DllMain, which the linker loads from MSVCRTD.LIB(dllmain.obj).
The linker then processes an object file compiled from a C++ file that contains #include "stdafx.h", which references the symbol
__afxForceUSRDLL, which the linker loads from MFC42D.LIB(dllmodul.obj). This object module also contains an implementation for DllMain,
causing the conflict.
I have a very similar problem. [mfcs110d.lib(dllmodul.obj) : error LNK2005: _DllMain#12 already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(dllmain.obj)] and the solution was add mfcs110d.lib to Additional Dependencies
For all those who are experiencing this error in ATL projects (mostly when trying to add MFC support), here's the solution I found after days of frustration!
First of all, this link was more helpful to me than all the others. It pointed me into the right direction. The problem occurs, if the "generated files" (containing the proxy and stub code, just as the type guids) for some reason have been removed and readded to the project. This causes Visual Studio to add them in the wrong order!
Usually you first come up with the "ATL requires C++ compilation" error, but you may have fixed this by turning out the Yc/Yu (precompiled headers) setting for that file.
What you should do next is unloading your project and edit it. Search for the item groups that define the build and include order (ClCompile and ClInclude). Check their order and settings.
The compiles should appear in this order:
dllmain.cpp (with CompileAsManaged set to false and PrecompiledHeader left empty).
Library source (MyLib.cpp, containing DllCanUnloadNow and so on)
Proxy/Stub code (MyLib_i.c; with same settings as dllmain.cpp)
stdafx.cpp (with PrecompiledHeader set to Create)
All the other library source files (your actual libraries content)
xdlldata.c (with the same settings as dllmain.cpp)
The includes should then be ordered like this:
dllmain.h
MyLib_i.h
Resource.h
stdafx.h
targetver.h
... (actual library headers)
xdlldata.h
Fixing the build order fixed my project and I was able to create a new clean build.
I have personally got rid of this error this way: right-clicked project in the Solution Explorer, selected Properties from pop-up menu, clicked Linker tab and added mfcs71ud.lib into Additional Dependencies. If you're using Visual Studio 2005, it should be "80" instead of "71" and so on.
In my case I had a problem with the preprocessor directives.
For some reason _USRDLL was defined, when it should not have been.
To check this, go to the menu Project , select Project Properties , then select the snippet Configuration Properties --> Preprocessor .
The preprocessor directives will be found there.
Declare the mfc80ud.lib and mfcs80ud.lib in the Additional Dependancies field in the Project Properties -> Linker Tab -> Input of Visual Studio to fix the issue.
Just #undef the _USRDLL before including afx.h, or even better, edit your project configuration and remove the macro.
This is the usual configuration for a MFC extension DLL: Build Settings for an MFC DLL
Make sure you include "Stdafx.h" at the top of each .cpp file. I was getting the exact same error and had a single .cpp file that did not include this header at all. Adding the #include solved the problem.
I found solution Here
Visual Studio 2010 library linking order
this is: /FORCE:MULTIPLE
in linker options
I had to mix ATL and MFC together , to use
[module(name = "mymodule")]; construction in MFC application together with "__hook" keyword
I found this which helped me:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/148652
Basically the linker order was incorrect. the CRT libs were getting linked before the MFC libs. Turns out, the MFC libs had to get linked FIRST, and then the CRT libs could be linked.
Yucko Microsoft!!
There is a common theme running through some of the answers here.
Avishek Bose:-
Declare the mfc80ud.lib and mfcs80ud.lib in the Additional
Dependancies field in the Project Properties -> Linker Tab -> Input of
Visual Studio to fix the issue.
vmb100:-
I am working with Visual Studio 2010, so in my case the MFC lib is
called mfc100.lib.
joseAndresGomezTovar:-
I have a very similar problem. [mfcs110d.lib(dllmodul.obj) : error
LNK2005: _DllMain#12 already defined in MSVCRTD.lib(dllmain.obj)] and
the solution was add mfcs110d.lib to Additional Dependencies
So the general case seems to be to first find the name of the library to add ...
and then to add it ....
Note that there seem to be some prerequisites and/or alternative solutions.
This can also occur if your solution has multiple projects that export the same symbols. For example if you have sub-project that builds foo.dll with a foo.def file that exports DoFoo and a sub-project for bar.dll with a bar.def file that exports DoFoo, a collision will occur and this is the error you will see when you link.