Thread: VS.NET 2003 and C programs

  1. #1
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    Question VS.NET 2003 and C programs

    I'm a newbie to C and VS.NET so please bear with me. I am an experience programmer in VB, VBA, VBScript, ASP, HTML and a few other things.

    Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to create and compile a C program in VS.NET 2003. I think I figured out how to create a C source code file:

    Click File, New, File
    Under Categories, select Visual C++, select C++ File, click Open
    Click File, Save As, change Save As Type to C Source File and then name and save the file.

    At this point, I have a "test.c" file open in VS.NET where I can enter my code, but I can't find a way to compile the source file. I found a command line compiler, but is that the only way? I figured there would be a compile function available within the IDE for this.

    1. Did I create a C file correctly?
    2. How do I compile within the IDE?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    actually, all you need to do, is go to make a new .cpp file, and instead of keeping the default .cpp extension, just make it .c, and presto you are in the world of C programming.

    Everything else works the same, the compiler will now complain about new things you never knew could be problems, and not a thing at all about other problems. Have fun! (It's really not that bad)

  3. #3
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    Right-click on the toolbar and enable "Build". The toolbar icons to compile look a little like small birthday cakes. You can also use the "Build" menu or F7 to build the entire solution.

    If you can't find any of them, try creating a new project, then adding your .c file to that (File->New->Project)
    Last edited by hdood; 09-29-2004 at 04:58 AM.

  4. #4
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    I also curious about this one...
    How do I run the app from inside the IDE, like VCSPAWN.exe for VC++ 6?? I've searched the tool bars but can't find the button...

  5. #5
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    charlesmarshall, you have to create new project if you want to compile your source.
    1. From menu "File/New/Project"
    2. Select "Visual C++ Projects/Win32/Win32 Console Project"
    3. Type project name and directory and press OK
    4. Go to "Application Settings", select "Empty Project" and press Finish
    5. From menu "File/Add New Item..."
    6. Select "C++ File", type filename (remember ".c") and press Open
    and that's it, new project in just 6 steps

    Quote Originally Posted by xErath
    I also curious about this one...
    How do I run the app from inside the IDE, like VCSPAWN.exe for VC++ 6?? I've searched the tool bars but can't find the button...
    1. From menu "Tools/Customize"
    2. Go to commands page and choose "Debug" from Categories section
    3. Find "Start Without Debugging" from Commands section and drag it to wherever you want

  6. #6
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    OK. I created a new project and a new c file. I also can successfully select Build Solution from the Build menu. But an executable isn't created. I've searched my hard drive and can't find it. Also, when I click Debug, Start without Debugging, it says it can't find myprogram.exe in the debug folder where it's looking for it. Am I doing something wrong?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by charlesmarshall
    OK. I created a new project and a new c file. I also can successfully select Build Solution from the Build menu. But an executable isn't created. I've searched my hard drive and can't find it. Also, when I click Debug, Start without Debugging, it says it can't find myprogram.exe in the debug folder where it's looking for it. Am I doing something wrong?
    1. Please make sure you have selected release from the drop down menu:

    2. The location of this .exe will be in the my documents>Visual Studio Projects>Your project name, folder.

    All you should have to do is "build<application name>" and then go to debug>Start without debugging, and then the program should start.

    If you need any other help please just let me know.
    Last edited by neoborn; 09-30-2004 at 05:02 AM.

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