unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16

[larry]

I'm trying to write Win32 application without using some wizard. I create a project, add a source file to it and write a wmain() function into it, nothing else. But when linking, after compilation, I always get "unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16" message. I've read in help that I have to set (in Project settings) an entry-point symbol value to "wWinMainCRTStartup" to avoid this error. Well, I don't get the message described above anymore, but I get one that's similar: "unresolved external symbol _wWinMain@16". I tried almost everything. What's wrong?

[Esss]

For wmain, you should use wmainCRTStartup.

[larry]

One step further. Now linker reports "error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _wmain"

[Dang]

In the Output category of the Link field in the Project Settings dialog box, set the Entry Point Symbol to wWinMainCRTStartup.

[Esss]

> One step further. Now linker reports "error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _wmain"

Well, we're going to have to see a little code, then. Bear in mind that a 'Win32 Application' expects a WinMain or wWinMain, whereas a 'Win32 Console Application' uses main or wmain. Make sure you've defined both UNICODE and _UNICODE, and not _MBCS, in the C/C++ tab.

> In the Output category of the Link field in the Project Settings dialog box, set the Entry Point Symbol to wWinMainCRTStartup.

If you read the post, you'll see that that's not what he wants to do.

[larry]

I'm not sure I understand, but as for some code, there is nothing, just

int WinMain() {
  return 0;
}

For me, it doesn't matter if I use main, wmain, WinMain, or wWinMain. I just want Win32 Application with this code (not Console; Win32 Console Application compiles OK) to compile. I did as you told, now my preprocessor definitions (under C/C++ tab) look like this:
"WIN32,_DEBUG,_WINDOWS,STRICT,UNICODE,_UNICODE "
But it still doesn't compile! I took from your explanation that I should use "wWinMainCRTStartup" entry-point symbol. So I did and now I'm where I was at the beginning - linker reports
"LIBCD.lib(wwincrt0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _wWinMain@16"
I didn't mention a thing about the compiler yet, it's MSVC++ 5.0. Please help, I'm helpless.

[Esss]

If you want to use WinMain, you must use

#include <windows.h>

wWinMain is not in windows.h, so you either need to use atlbase.h, or include the line:

extern "C" int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPWSTR lpCmdLine, int nShowCmd);

Windows Applications (linked with /subsystem:windows) do not support the entry points main or wmain.

[larry]

Well, I included windows.h header, but it doesn't even compile. Seems like it needs any other header before windows.h, doesn't it? The report looks like this:

"
Compiling...
source.cpp
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winnt.h(199) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winnt.h(218) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winnt.h(4227) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winnt.h(4236) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winbase.h(481) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\mmsystem.h(1623) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\mmsystem.h(1627) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\mmsystem.h(1648) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\mmsystem.h(1652) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\wtypes.h(1039) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\wtypes.h(1064) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\wtypes.h(1077) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\oaidl.h(394) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union
D:\Dokumenty\cpp\pokus32\source.cpp(3) : error C2731: 'WinMain' : function cannot be overloaded
"

[Esss]

> Well, I included windows.h header, but it doesn't even compile

That's because your code is wrong. Congratulations.

> D:\Dokumenty\cpp\pokus32\source.cpp(3) : error C2731: 'WinMain' : function cannot be overloaded

This means that you've specified the wrong arguments for WinMain. WinMain's prototype is:

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nShowCmd);

You need to specify all these arguments in order to use WinMain.

[larry]

My code now looks like this:

#include <windows.h>

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nShowCmd) {
  return 0;
}

It still reports those "nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union" messages! But they are only warnings, so I can start the linker. And the linker reports "LIBCD.lib(wwincrt0.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _wWinMain@16". And it's an error, so I can't continue...

> That's because your code is wrong. Congratulations.

Are you sure? Message like "d:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\INCLUDE\winnt.h(4227) : warning C4201: nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union" has something to do with my code? Maybe it's true. So, my question is: WHAT SHOULD MY CODE LOOK LIKE FOR CLEAR COMPILATION?? WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?? Please, tell me this, if you know it.

[no-one]

ok better, heres one from MSVC

#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN	
#include <windows.h>

int APIENTRY WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance,
                     HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
                     LPSTR     lpCmdLine,
                     int       nCmdShow)
{

	return 0;
}

are you making a win32 app or a console app?

[minime6696]

Obviousley if the missing symbol is __WinMain, then you must conclude from the name:

Win + Main = Windows Main
That you need to base the program around WinMain. BUT I think you've doen something to your compiler...

SPH

[Esss]

> Are you sure?

It was. Now your linker settings are wrong. Take out the 'Entry Point' definition.

> It still reports those "nonstandard extension used : nameless struct/union" messages!

It's a level 4 warning, and it can be safely ignored. If it gives you heartache, you can put

#pragma warning(disable:4201)

before the offending includes.

[larry]

It works. Thanx a lot.