Thread: compiler/linker flags in VS2008

Hi,
I have some source that won't compile without a passing a flag to both the compiler and the linker. I was previously using Dev-C++ but I want to use MS VS2008 now and it won't work

In Dev-C++, all I had to do was go to Tools>Compiler Options and add the command -lws2_32 to both text boxes (one each for the compiler and the linker). All worked fine...

Now with VC++ 2008, this is what I tried:
Go to Project>(Project Name) Properties
Then go to Configuration Properties>C/C++>Command Line and added the command -lws2_32
In the same window, go to Configuration Properties>Linker>Command Line and added the same command, -lws2_32

However, doing this did not fix the problem I get these warnings when compiling and linking:

Code:

cl : Command line warning D9002 : ignoring unknown option '-lws2_32'
...
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/lws2_32'; ignored

Of course, do to these two errors, I get tons of others. I prefer using VC++ 2008 a lot over Dev-C++, but I can't get it to work...

Is there a way to fix this???

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'm configuring and using the same build configuration, Debug.

But what the heck is "-lws2_32"?
Compiler options and linker options are different for each compiler/linker. You can't just expect it to work with all. Not to mention Microsoft uses the standard "/" prefix, and not "-".

Perhaps if you mentioned what command line it was or what errors you get, we can help more.

Well, that's the problem...
I don't even know what that is. All I know is that it fixes errors like these:

Code:

keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _closesocket@4 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _send@16 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _recv@16 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _connect@12 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _socket@12 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _htons@4 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _gethostbyname@4 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _WSACleanup@0 referenced in function _MailIt
keymail.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _WSAStartup@8 referenced in function _MailIt

somehow it tells the compiler/linker where to find the references of these... constants I guess??? I didn't write this function myself and I can't really find these words in the source either

Sorry, but I don't know much about this myself... But I think it has something to do with Windows Sockets.
I don't mind posting the source of the function if you want.

Under project options -> linker- > input, add Ws2_32.lib. Then it should compile smoothly.

this option tells the linker link the winsock library

in VS - open project settings, go to Linker options and in the input libraries list add ws2_32.lib

Thanks vart. It worked