Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

Mcoy · Apr 4th, 2006, 2:39 PM

I have been learning c++ with Dev-cpp for some time and I recently attempted using Visual C++ (Express Edition). Visual C++ seems far more complicated. In Dev-cpp all I had to do to compile a source file was click 'compile' in the toolbar and it neatly placed a .exe file where I told it to.
However, using VC++ I have run into a bunch of terms like, 'build', 'link', 'projectsheet', 'release build' etc etc. And really I can barely get a HelloWorld app to run.
Can anybody point me to some helpful websites written for VC noobies?

hbe02 · Apr 4th, 2006, 4:08 PM

functionx.com is pretty good

nnxion · Apr 4th, 2006, 4:26 PM

Of course you searched first and found many tutorial sites already. Right?

DaWei · Apr 4th, 2006, 4:31 PM

As a shortcut, I just click the 'Run' button. If compilation or any other step is needed, it's taken. If there are errors, it doesn't run, of course, but there the errors are: displayed.

Ooble · Apr 4th, 2006, 4:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nnxion

Of course you searched first and found many tutorial sites already. Right?

Stop with the bitching. Google will return a huge number of sites - how do you know which one is the best?

@ the OP: Are you trying to create a console application or a windowed application? If it's a windowed one, are you using the Win32 API or something else?

nnxion · Apr 4th, 2006, 4:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ooble

Stop with the bitching. Google will return a huge number of sites - how do you know which one is the best?

My goodness, why do you assume I meant google? I meant the forums, this question has got to be posted at least ten times.
@OP: Anyway, if you use VC++ 2005, then you need to create a project, a win32 console project, make it an empty project.
Then create a .cpp source file. Add it on your solution explorer under "source files". Open the .cpp file and type:

(Toggle Plain Text)

include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
	cout << "Hello world!" << endl;
	return 0;
}

Well that's it, save it. And go to the build menu and select build project.
Then go to the debug menu and select "run without debugging".
Voila done, you can also specify release or debug under "configuration" in your build menu.

A build does a compile and a link. You should read up on how that works, it will be an invaluable lesson.

DaWei · Apr 4th, 2006, 5:48 PM

Quote:

@ the OP: Are you trying to create a console application or a windowed application? If it's a windowed one, are you using the Win32 API or something else?

@ the Ooble: stop the frittering. What does that have to do with enticing the IDE to compile?

Ooble · Apr 4th, 2006, 6:33 PM

With Visual C++, you have to create a project to compile something. The type of project you compile depends on what you're trying to do. But then, you knew that.

Mcoy · Apr 4th, 2006, 8:23 PM

I did search the forums actually, and I only looked briefly but there wasn't anything...Anyway, I had
figured out to compile a Win32 console app, but Im really just confused by the different terms and procedures used to compile things with
VC compared to Dev-cpp.
My Main Question was, has anyone knowledge of a website that deals with using VS, for newbies, having tutorials, etc. Cplusplus.com , cprogramming.org etc all have fine tuts on C and C++,
but nowhere have I heard the term 'release version', nowhere have I encountered a tutorial or book that asks me to 'build' Projects.
Google did turn up many many non helpful results, so yeah.... Im still open to suggestions...

DaWei · Apr 4th, 2006, 8:45 PM

I only use the help documentation that came with it. Admittedly, I've been using IDEs for dog's years. Here's a sample of a fairly large amount of information brought up by 'release':

Quote:

A release build uses optimizations. When you use optimizations to create a release build, the compiler will not produce symbolic debugging information. The absence of symbolic debugging information, along with the fact that code is not generated for TRACE and ASSERT calls, means that the size of your executable file is reduced and will therefore be faster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Build

Custom Build Steps

A custom build step is a build rule associated with either a project or one or more files. A custom build step can pass input files to a tool, which results in one or more output files. For example, the help files in an MFC application are built with custom build steps. For more information, see Specifying Custom Build Steps.
Build Events

Build events let you customize a project's build. There are three build events: Pre-Build, Pre-Link, and Post-Build. A build event lets you specify an action to occur at a specific time in the build process. For example, you could use a build event to register a file with regsvr32.exe after the project finishes building. For more information, see Specifying Build Events.
Troubleshooting Custom Build Steps and Build Events can help you ensure that your custom build steps and build events run as expected.

The output format of a custom build step or build event can also enhance the usability of the tool. For more information, see Formatting the Output of a Custom Build Step or Build Event.

Build events and custom build steps run in the following order along with other build steps:

Pre-Build event

Custom build steps on individual files

Proxy generator

MIDL

Resource compiler

The C/C++ compiler

Pre-Link event

Linker or Librarian (as appropriate)

BSCMake

Custom build step on the project

Web deployment tool. The web deployment tool runs as part of a build only if the linker or librarian tools also run. However, you can run the web deployment tool via the Build menu.

Post-Build event

A custom build step on the project, the web deployment tool, and a post-build event run (sequentially) at the same point in the build � after all other build processes are completed.

As far as tutorials, this is a portion under IDE:

Quote:

User interface (UI) reference topics explain the options that appear on various dialog boxes, windows, and other user interfaces of the integrated development environment (IDE). These types of topics generally appear when you press F1 in a dialog box or window. In the table of contents, these topics are grouped by the feature area to which they apply. For example, the UI reference topic for the Find dialog box can be found under Editors.

Apr 4th, 2006, 2:39 PM	#1
Mcoy Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Visual C++ I have been learning c++ with Dev-cpp for some time and I recently attempted using Visual C++ (Express Edition). Visual C++ seems far more complicated. In Dev-cpp all I had to do to compile a source file was click 'compile' in the toolbar and it neatly placed a .exe file where I told it to. However, using VC++ I have run into a bunch of terms like, 'build', 'link', 'projectsheet', 'release build' etc etc. And really I can barely get a HelloWorld app to run. Can anybody point me to some helpful websites written for VC noobies?

Apr 4th, 2006, 4:26 PM	#3
nnxion Programming Guru Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: elemental plane Posts: 1,429 Rep Power: 5	Of course you searched first and found many tutorial sites already. Right? __________________ "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." -- Socrates

Apr 4th, 2006, 4:31 PM	#4
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	As a shortcut, I just click the 'Run' button. If compilation or any other step is needed, it's taken. If there are errors, it doesn't run, of course, but there the errors are: displayed. __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Apr 4th, 2006, 6:33 PM	#8
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	With Visual C++, you have to create a project to compile something. The type of project you compile depends on what you're trying to do. But then, you knew that. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

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Apr 4th, 2006, 4:08 PM	#2
hbe02 Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lebanon Posts: 148 Rep Power: 3	functionx.com is pretty good

Apr 4th, 2006, 8:23 PM	#9
Mcoy Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	I did search the forums actually, and I only looked briefly but there wasn't anything...Anyway, I had figured out to compile a Win32 console app, but Im really just confused by the different terms and procedures used to compile things with VC compared to Dev-cpp. My Main Question was, has anyone knowledge of a website that deals with using VS, for newbies, having tutorials, etc. Cplusplus.com , cprogramming.org etc all have fine tuts on C and C++, but nowhere have I heard the term 'release version', nowhere have I encountered a tutorial or book that asks me to 'build' Projects. Google did turn up many many non helpful results, so yeah.... Im still open to suggestions...

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