Thread: I have an unresolved external error at compile time.

Hello I am getting the following two errors in my program. They are:

Error 1 error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _XInputGetState@8 referenced in function _ControllerExists F:\Programs\C-flat\Joystick Key Mapper\Joystick Key Mapper\Source.obj Joystick Key Mapper

Error 2 error LNK1120: 1 unresolved externals F:\Programs\C-flat\Joystick Key Mapper\Debug\Joystick Key Mapper.exe Joystick Key Mapper

Here is my program:

Code:

#define _X86_
#include <stdio.h>
#include<string.h>
#include <Xinput.h>
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <Windows.h>
BYTE ControllerExists();
int main()
{
 char option;
 puts("Welcome to Key Mapper \n");
 puts("Program by: Jeremy Red\n");
 puts("Information:\n");
 if (ControllerExists() > FALSE);
 {
  puts("Controller Found");
 }
 puts("Program is used to map keys to a controller input\n");
 while (1 == 1)
 {
  puts("Select type in an option:\n\n");
  puts("\t 1. <L>oad a program\n");
  puts("\t 2. <S>tart a new program\n");
  puts("\t 3. <E>dit an existing program\n");
  puts("\t 4. <R>un current program\n");
  puts("\t 5. <Q>uit preogram\n");
  option = getchar();
  if (option == '1' || option == 'L' || option == 'l')
  {
   // Load an existing program
  }
  else
  if (option == '2' || option == 'S' || option == 's')
  {
   // Start a new program
  }
  else
  if (option == '3' || option == 'E' || option == 'e')
  {
   // Change an existing program
  }
  else
  if (option == '4' || option == 'R' || option == 'r')
  {
   // Run the current program and if one is not running 
   // return an error and reload options
  }
  else
  if (option == '5' || option == 'Q' || option == 'q')
  {
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
  }
 }
}
BYTE ControllerExists()
{
 for (BYTE i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 {
  XINPUT_STATE state;
  ZeroMemory(&state, sizeof(XINPUT_STATE));
  if (XInputGetState(i, &state) == TRUE)
  {
   printf("Controller was found in port %i\n", i);
   return i + 1;
  }
 }
 puts("Error no controller was found on any port");
 return 0;
}

I have no idea how I can fix this... I know what the error is just not how to fix it. If anyone could help I would appreciate it.

What do you mean by add a switch like -lxinput? what does this mean and how would I do it?

Mods: please move

This belongs in the Windows forum next time, it's a very Windows-specific problem (D3D, Windows.h, etc). After a previous thread got moved, your post from a few days ago said you would remember the right location next time :P.

Generally that error message implies it can't find a particular function or variable in another object file or library -- usually because your linker options are not right: directories to look in, library names you are linking in, the order they are linked in, etc. Without more info, we can't say for sure, only guess.

A quick Google search for "unresolved external symbol _XInputGetState" turned up several results: https://www.google.com/search?q="unresolved+external+symbol+_XInputGetSta te". There are a number of causes and solutions, like
* using left- and right- quotes instead of straight quotes in #pragma statement
* failing to link the lib
* not defining all the proper macros
* wrong bin or lib path in your project settings
* etc
Google should be the first thing you try. If you did that, let us know, and tell us which solutions you tried, so we don't waste time re-doing your Google search for you, so you can say "already tried that, didn't work".

Many (all?) of the potential solutions (including Matticus' suggestion) will be specific to the compiler/implementation/development environment you are using. Some more details in that area would help.

Did not know this was a windows specific question. Anyways I am using visual studio 2013 as my IDE and compiler. I will do a BING(I love everything Microsoft) search like you suggested to try and fix it

I'm wondering why it is not a game programming question. Why are you using XInput?