Using Microsoft Visual Studio C++ Express 2005

Name: Dr Ju Wang

Ashwin BelleCourse Resource:

http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jwang3/CMSC245/

Ensure proper installation of Visual Studio Express

Refer to the Installation guide on the Microsoft website.

To begin

To Start the Studio Express application;

• Go to start menu All Programs • Select Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

The Start Screen

This is the first screen you would see as soon as the application is up and running.

The concept of projects

A Project or Solution is a set of files that will compile into a single executable (.exe) file.

A project can contain multiple files compiled together.

Projects are mandatory even when they contain only one file.

Creating A Project

To create a new project of your own,

• Select the file tab,• Select New• Click on Project….

Project Options

Select Win32 application on the left tab and give a name to your project in the section below. Select the Create Directory for Solution checkbox. Then Click OK button.

Project Options

Select Application Settings on the left option panel, and select the Empty Project checkbox. Then click the Finish button.

Adding a file to your project.

Go to project, click on Add New Item….

File Options

Select Code in the left option panel, select C++ File(.cpp) in the right option panelGive a name for the file (like ex1). Then Click Add.

Main Page

Code Area

Debug information area

Solution ExplorerFiles, Folders etc.

Entering A Program

Compiling / Building

Go to the Build Tab and click on Build Solution

Build Errors

To view Specific errors in your program recognised after building select Error List Window in the view tab options.

Build Errors

The Errors and warnings can thus been seen as shown in the bottom Error list window.

Running the program

You can also directly build and run the programm without debugging it by selecting the Start without Debugging option in the Debug tab.