header file search path for Visual C++ projects

header file search path for Visual C++ projects

1. Where does Visual Studio look for C++ header files?

I checked out a copy of a C++ application from SourceForge (HoboCopy, if you're curious) and tried to compile it.

Visual Studio tells me that it can't find a particular header file. I found the file in the source tree, but where do I need to put it, so that it will be found when compiling?

Are there special directories?

Visual Studio looks for headers in this order:

1. In the current source directory.
2. In the Additional Include Directories in the project properties (Project -> [project name] Properties, under C/C++ | General).
3. In the Visual Studio C++ Include directories under Tools → Options → Projects and Solutions → VC++ Directories.
4. In new versions of Visual Studio (2015+) the above option is deprecated and a list of default include directories is available at Project Properties → Configuration → VC++ Directories
5. In your case, add the directory that the header is to the project properties (Project Properties → Configuration → C/C++ → General → Additional Include Directories).
2. #include directive (C/C++)

Tells the preprocessor to treat the contents of a specified file as if they appear in the source program at the point where the directive appears.

3. Changing Your Include Search Path of C Programming

MS Visual Studio 2005

1. Right-click the project name and choose "Properties."
2. In the properties dialog select "C/C++." This should open a branch that include General, Optimization, etc.
3. On the C/C++ branch select "General."
4. In the right-hand window locate the text box labeled "Additional Include Directories." This may or may not be empty. Add a dot (.) at the very beginning of the text box; if there is already something in the text box add a semi-colon (;) after the dot. My Additional Include Directories text box looks like this:
   .;..\cdalib
4. Configuring Visual Studio for C/C++ Projects

To ensure that Visual Studio can find the PixeLINK API header files and import library, it is recommended that you make use of the PIXELINK_SDK_ROOT environment variable that was created when you installed the SDK. .

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