Windows.h include file missing

[webspot]

Can you help??

I've just started learning C++ and have downloaded Microsoft Visual c++ Toolkit 2003. I found a good tutorial to help me but I found that I am missing the windows.h file from the includes directory. Any Ideas?

[+John Teacake MVC]

Are the include paths set correctly?

[webspot]

yeah coz ive made simple progams that have run in the command prompt

[Andareed]

I think the toolkit only includes the compiler and maybe CRT. You'll need to download and install the Platform SDK (http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/)

[webspot]

How do I do this manually as I can't use the activeX control.

[Andareed]

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platfo...e/psdk-full.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platfo...FULLInstall.htm

No idea which is better though :)

[webspot]

I used the one from http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platfo...FULLInstall.htm. Downloaded and Installed it all. I tried to compile something and it cam up with this error:

error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__MessageBoxA@16 referenced in function _WinMain@16

It might be the code but I'm not sure. Here's the code:

#include <windows.h>

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, 
    LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow)
{
    MessageBox(NULL, "Hello World!", "Note", MB_OK);
    return 0;
}

This was my first windowed appication and I know I have probably mucked up

[Andareed]

Add user32.lib to your linker imports (just add user32.lib at the end of link.exe). You'll also probably want to add kernel32.lib, gdi32.lib, and user32.lib always as they are quite commonly used.

[webspot]

can u tell me how to do this. I'm not so good at c++ yet. I've found the link program but don't know how to change it

[Andareed]

What is your command line for compiling and linking?

[webspot]

Microsoft Visual C++ toolkit 2003

I use "cl" to compile.

Edited December 17, 2004 by webspot

[Andareed]

Add:

/link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib"

to the end of your cl command.

Ex: cl.exe abc.c def.c /link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib"

[webspot]

Is there a way to do this automatically so I don't have to put /link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib" each time???

[Diffused Mind]

Is there a way to do this automatically so I don't have to put /link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib" each time???

585116666[/snapback]

Make a batch file that calls the program with all the parameters?

[webspot]

bear in mind im not too good at this sort of thing. how???

[Andareed]

Create build.bat that contains:

cl.exe file.c /link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib"

---

Better idea would be to learn how to use nmake and vc++ makefiles (no idea if nmake is part of the toolkit though).

[Ultra Frosty]

Create build.bat that contains:

cl.exe file.c /link "user32.lib kernel32.lib gdi32.lib"

---

Better idea would be to learn how to use nmake and vc++ makefiles (no idea if nmake is part of the toolkit though).

585117654[/snapback]

No, nmake is part of the Platform SDK

[Hosiah]

I couldn't resist pointing out, on a Linux, you'd just type the command line once, then hit the "up" arrow to recall a previously used command.

"unresolved external symbol"- even now, looking back on my Windows programming days, that phrase sends a shiver down my spine...looking up all those "LNK" numbers in the docs, only to find some 20 possible causes for each one...*br-r-r*

Hey! Maybe you could write some kind of shell program in Dos, where a single keypress activates it, and it recovers your command lines from a file! But could you have it activated in the background so that it caught and filed each command line as you typed it?