[VS2010] adding *.dll files to a project

I am writing a C++ application in Visual Studio 2010 which is meant to use MATLAB for graph plotting. In order to do so I added the MATLAB dll directory in my solution:
Properties -> Debugging -> Environment -> "PATH=F:\MATLAB R2010b\bin\win32"
as well as in:
Properties -> Linker -> Input -> Additional Dependencies:
"F:\MATLAB R2010b\extern\lib\win32\microsoft\libeng.lib
F:\MATLAB R2010b\extern\lib\win32\microsoft\libmx.lib"

I also needed to include headers to MATLAB engine:

Code:

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#include "engine.h"
#include "matrix.h"
#include "tmwtypes.h"

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When I run my program directly from VS (start without debugging) it works properly, however if I build the app and then start the executable, it gives me an error:

Quote:

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Could not locate something.dll

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I tried to copy the file from the directory mentioned above but then it asks for another and another until I got tired of copying all the libraties. I copied the executable to the directory "F:\MATLAB R2010b\bin\win32" and then the program works properly.

How can I make VS copy all the files for me or somehow tell the program to look for them in the matlab directory? What is the common programming practise on handling the dll libraries?

Did you add it as a reference to your project? I found this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kulfon

Properties -> Debugging -> Environment -> "PATH=F:\MATLAB R2010b\bin\win32"
....
When I run my program directly from VS (start without debugging) it works properly, however if I build the app and then start the executable, it gives me an error:

I tried to copy the file from the directory mentioned above but then it asks for another and another until I got tired of copying all the libraties. I copied the executable to the directory "F:\MATLAB R2010b\bin\win32" and then the program works properly.

How can I make VS copy all the files for me or somehow tell the program to look for them in the matlab directory? What is the common programming practise on handling the dll libraries?

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Environment variables are not compiled/linked in to the application itself. They are passed as "arguments" when visual studio invokes your application. When you are executing your application manually that PATH variable isn't the same anymore.

The solutions I can think of are:
* Have the dlls in the same directory as your application.
* Have the dlls in the search path. How to set the path in Windows 2000 / Windows XP.
* Don't link with the static libraries and load the dlls manually with LoadLibrary() by using absolute paths to the dlls. But this would require that everyone trying to run your application has MATLAB installed in the same path as you, unless it sets some registry key to it's install dir which you can use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewHunter

Did you add it as a reference to your project? I found this.

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That link is referring to .Net assemblies, not native dlls.

Oh, ok. Thanks Mike.