Using the Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler
- Make sure that your computer and monitor are turned on.
- Log on to the computer.
- If you are using a computer in the Penn State computer lab, open Windows
Explorer by clicking the Start/Programs/Accessories command and verify that
the C:\Temp folder is empty.
- Start the Visual C++ compiler by clicking the Start/Programming
Software/Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0/Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 command. Do
not be alarmed if you see that the program MS Developer Studio 97 starts.
Visual C++ is part of the Developer Studio suite (similar to how MS Word is
part of the MS Office suite).
- Choose File/New... from the menu. Click the "Files" tab. Select
"C++ Source File". Type the name that you wish to use for your program
in the File name text box. I recommend that you do not use any spaces in the
file name and that you end the file name with the extension .cpp. Then click
the Build button (with three little dots) next to the Location text box and
choose a location for your file. If you are working on a computer in the Penn
State computer lab, you must choose the C:\Temp folder. (Of course, you could
simply type "C:\TEMP" in the Location text box.) If you are using
your own computer, you may store the program anywhere such as your My Documents
folder. Click OK to continue.
- Type the source code for your program.
- Click the Build/Compile... menu command. This compiles your program which
checks it for errors.
- Click "Yes" if you are asked if you wish to create a new workspace.
- Click "Yes" if you are asked if you wish to save any changes.
- Any errors in your program will now be indicated in a window at the bottom
of the screen. If you do have any errors, scroll-up in the error window and
double-click anywhere within the line that describes the first error. The
compiler will probably highlight a line of your program where it believes
an error is located. Sometimes though this is a bit misleading since the error
may be on a line before the highlighted line of code. Anyway, you should find
and fix that error and try compiling your program again. Do not fix the other
errors that you might see listed since they may really be errors that resulted
from the first one that you fixed. Also, you can generally disregard warnings
since they do not prevent your program from executing and sometimes are incidental.
The process of fixing errors in a program is called debugging.
- To run (i.e. execute) your program, click the Build/Execute... menu command.
- Click "Yes" if asked if you want to build an .exe file.
- When your program executes, it's output will be displayed in a black DOS
console window. After you have studied the program's output, press any key
to continue.
- When you are finished writing, modifying, & recompiling your program,
click the File/Exit menu command to exit the Visual C++ compiler. Your program
(the .cpp file) is now saved in the C:\Temp folder along with some other files.
- If you are using a computer in the Penn State computer lab, insert your
floppy disk and copy just the .cpp source file from the the Temp folder to
your floppy disk. There will be many other files that are unnecessary and
do not need to be saved. I recommend that you copy the .cpp source file with
Windows Explorer under the Start/Programs/Accessories command. Do not use
the File/Save As... menu command. Also, be aware that all files stored in
the C:\Temp folder are automatically deleted when you log off a computer in
any Penn State computer lab.
Modifying a program that you already have saved.
- Until you really understand how the compiler works, I recommend that all
students completely exit the Visual C++ compiler every time that they wish
to begin a new program. Do not simply use the File/New... menu command to
begin a new program within Visual C++ as if you were working on a second Word
document in MS Word. Otherwise, you may see linking and other kinds of errors
that you probably will not be able to fix.
- If you are working on your home computer and you would like to continue
working on a program that you previously saved, you can probably double-click
on the .cpp source file. This will usually cause the Visual C++ compiler to
launch and bring up your program for editing. When you need to compile the
program (i.e. check for errors) use the Build/Compile... menu command and
answer "Yes" to any questions that appear. If the Visual C++ compiler
does not automatically open when you double-click the file, you should open
the program using the File/Open... menu command after first launching the
Visual C++ compiler from the Start menu.
- If you are working on a computer in the Penn State computer lab and you
would like to continue working on a program that you previously saved, you
must first copy the .cpp source file from your floppy disk to the C:\Temp
folder. Then double-click on the .cpp source file. This will usually cause
the Visual C++ compiler to open and bring up your program for editing. When
you need to compile the program (i.e. check for errors) use the Build/Compile...
menu command and answer "Yes" to any questions that appear. If the
Visual C++ compiler does not automatically open when you double-click the
file, you should open the program using the File/Open... menu command after
first launching the Visual C++ compiler from the Start menu.
- Don't forget to copy the final version of your program back to your floppy
disk if working in the Penn State computer lab. Also beware! If you try to
open a program straight off the floppy disk without first copying it to the
C:\Temp, you will probably crash the computer since there is not enough space
on a floppy disk for the automatically generated auxiliary files that the
compiler creates along with the .cpp source file.
Practice Assignments #1 & 2:
- Follow the instructions above to create your first C++ source file named
"practiceassignment1.cpp" and execute that file. Type the code below
when necessary. Be sure to type the code exactly as it appears. C++ is very
case-sensitive.
// [Type your name here, without the brackets]
// CMPSC 101
// practiceassignment1.cpp
// [Type today's date here, without the brackets]
// Purpose - This program displays a hello world message.
#include <iostream.h>
int main()
{
cout << "hello world" <<
endl;
return 0;
}// end of main
Compile and execute the program to make sure that it works before continuing
with the next exercise. Printout the source file by choosing File/Print...
from the menu.
- Use the File/Exit menu command to completely exit from Visual C++ (Developer
Studio). Create another new source file named "practiceassignment2.cpp"
following the compiler instructions above. Use Copy and Paste to transfer
the code from http://www.minich.com/education/psu/cplusplus/week2lxr/FromWeb.htm
to your new source file. Note that the character between the 2 and the x is
the letter l (as in Larry) not the digit 1. Type your name and today's date
where appropriate. Compile and execute the program to make sure that it works.
If necessary, debug the program. Print out the source file by choosing File/Print...
from the menu.
- Use Windows Explorer (not the File/Save As... menu command) to copy both
source files, practiceassignment1.cpp & practiceassignment2.cpp, to the
floppy disk that you plan to use to store all of your working files in this
course. Also, copy both files to your backup floppy disk. Then copy both files
to another blank floppy disk. On the floppy disk label write your name, CMPSC
101, the instructor's name (Mr. Minich), practiceassignment1.cpp, and practiceassignment2.cpp.
No other files or folders should be stored on this floppy disk. Submit this
floppy disk along with the stapled printouts (practiceassignment1.cpp on top)
by the due date.