Introduction to Using Visual C++

• Use FILE | NEW
• Select PROJECTS
• Select WIN 32 CONSOLE APPLICATION
• Enter project NAME and LOCATION
• Click OK

• Use PROJECT | ADD TO PROJECT |FILES
• Select *.* for ALL FILE types
• Select desired files (you can include source files and and object files) and click OK

• Use PROJECT | ADD TO PROJECT | NEW
• Select the type of file to create (source file for a *.cpp file)
• Give the file a Name and verify the path (it should be correct)
• Click OK
• Write/edit the file in the file window….

• In the Workspace display window (left pane), click on the File View tab
• Double-click on the name of the source file you want to work with (this will open the file in the right window)
• If the file is ready to compile, use BUILD | COMPILE or the COMPILE icon on the toolbar to compile the file.
• Compilation results and errors will be listed in the window at the bottom of the screen.
• To view the code associated with an error, you can either (1) use F4 to go to the NEXT ERROR, or (2) double-click on the error message in the compilation window.

• Once the source files are compiled, use BUILD | *.EXE or the BUILD icon on the toolbar to link the object files created from the source files with any other files or libraries needed.
• NOTE: BUILD | *.EXE will also compile any changed source files and perform linking in one step, as long as there are no errors in the source code.
• You can also use BUILD | REBUILD ALL to recompile and relink all files…

• Use BUILD | EXECUTE, CTRL-F5, or EXECUTE icon (Exclamation mark) to run the program without stopping, and leave the final window open for viewing the program results.
• Use BUILD | START DEBUG | RUN, F5, or RUN icon (program with down arrow beside it) to run program to a preset breakpoint, then stop for debugging.
• Use BUILD | START DEBUG | STEP INTO or F8 to start the program by stepping into the first step.
• Use BUILD | START DEBUG | RUN TO CURSOR or F7 to start the program and run it to the current cursor location.
• When using the debug mode, you can use various options to step through the program, jump over subroutines, etc.

• Use TOOLS | OPTIONS to set general options (such as tab sizes) associated with using the VC++ environment.
• Use BUILD | SET ACTIVE CONFIGURATION to set either DEBUG or RELEASE as the current configuration for building executable files. Note: use DEBUG as the configuration for building executable files for assignments. A DEBUG version of a program includes additional information/instructions that allows you to use the debugging features when testing your program.

• Variables window --- auto, local
• Watch windows --- useful for tracking status of global variables
• Breakpoints --- allow you to run to a certain point in the code where you want to start debugging.
• Step Into --- allows you to trace program execution line-by-line into functions you want to debug.
• Step Over --- allows you to trace program execution WITHOUT going into functions you don't want to debug.