Introduction to Computer Graphics
CS 445 / 645
Spring 2004

Instructions for Installing Extension Libraries on Visual Studio 7

In this course, we make extensive use of libraries that augment the capabilities of the standard C++ and OpenGL tools.  We will be using FLTK to build user interfaces, FLUID to help with user interface design, and GLUT to extend OpenGL.

In order to use these extra tools, our programs need three different types of files: include headers, library files, and dynamic link libraries.  We've precompiled versions of each of these files for you and zipped them for you to upload.

Library installation

Either grab the code using this link or:

Use your favorite ftp tool (a secure FTP program called secureFX is available from ITC) to access blue.unix.virginia.edu

Change directories to /h1/d/dc/dcb8j/Class/IntroGraphics/

"Get" the zip file that is in the directory

Unzip the zip files into a common directory (which should include bin, include, and lib directories):

\bin

DLLs and executables

\include

header files

\lib

static libraries and DLL stubs

\documentation

FLTK documentation

 

 

 

You will need to make Visual Studio aware of these directories as 'standard' directories.  For the sake of this example, we will call the drive into which you deposited the above directories, Q.

In VS7.1, select Tools - Options - Projects - VC++ Directories options

In Executable files  add Q:\bin
In Include files add Q:\include
In Library files add Q:\lib

Select "Confirm"

Execution of your programs may require for the DLLs to actually be in your system path.  Two ways to achieve this is to either copy them in a directory which is on your path (e.g.the windows system32/ directory or, on a lab machine, in the executable's own directory),or to modify your system path accordingly (google search: "setting environment path windows foo," where foo is your windows OS (XP, 2000, etc.). It’s probably going to be accessible from control panel -> system -> environment (or advanced -> environment variables)).

FLUID

You are also going to make heavy use of the FTLK fluid tool.

It can be useful to make it available as an external tool accessible directly from VStudio.  To set up the menu entry for the Fluid GUI tool (recommended):

Select Tools - External Tools

Select "Add"

Title Fluid
Command Q:\bin\fluid.exe
Arguments $(TargetName)_GUI.fl
Directory $(ProjectDir)

After the fluid external tool is added to this list, count what number it is on the list.  Write this down.

Select "Confirm"

Add button to the Visual Studio menu using the "Customize" option (right click in the toolbar):

Then click the "Commands" tab.  Then click on the "Tools", "Categories" column.  In the "Commands" column, click and drag the "External Command #" button to the toolbar (where # corresponds to what number the Fluid tool is on the external tool list).

Now you should be able to launch fluid.exe from your Visual Studio programming environment.