Problem with "#include <windows.h>" in Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

SimonP · #1 21-Dec-2007, 01:36

Hi guys I'm in the process of attempting to write a small program that will capture an image of a window. I am writing a class CaptureScreen which will capture the images from the windows. The CaptureScreen header file "CaptureScreen.h" is as follows:

CPP / C++ / C Code:

#ifndef CAPTURESCREEN_H
#define CAPTURESCREEN_H
#include <windows.h>

class CaptureScreen
{
public:
	CaptureScreen();
	~CaptureScreen();
	bool CaptureWindow(HWND hWndSrc,double fPreviewRatio ,LPTSTR lpszFileName,BOOL bSaveToFile);
private:
	int width;
	int heigh;
	int bpp;
}

#endif

Where should I put the #include <windows.h> statement? I presume that it needs to be somewhere in the header file otherwise the HWND class will not be recognized by the compiler as a valid identifier.
Also, when I try to compile the above code, I get the following error message:

Code:

1>------ Build started: Project: ScreenScraper, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
1>Compiling...
1>ScreenScraper.cpp
1>c:\users\simon\documents\visual studio 2005\projects\screenscraper\screenscraper\capturescreen.h(3) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory
1>CaptureScreen.cpp
1>c:\users\simon\documents\visual studio 2005\projects\screenscraper\screenscraper\capturescreen.h(3) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory
1>Generating Code...
1>Build log was saved at "file://c:\Users\Simon\Documents\Visual Studio 2005\Projects\ScreenScraper\ScreenScraper\Debug\BuildLog.htm"
1>ScreenScraper - 2 error(s), 0 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

I have the following directories in my Tools-Options-VC++ Directories-Show directories for: Include files:
$(VCInstallDir)include
$(VCInstallDir)atlmfc\include
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\include\prerelease
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\common\include\prerelea se
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\include
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\common\include
$(FrameworkSDKDir)include

Any advice as to why this won't compile would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Simon Pearson

inevitable · #2 21-Dec-2007, 03:34

If you can provide me the .cpp file, then may be I can help you.

davekw7x · #3 21-Dec-2007, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonP

CPP / C++ / C Code:

#include <windows.h>

Code:

1fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory
1>CaptureScreen.cpp
1>c:\users\simon\documents\visual studio 2005\projects\screenscraper\screenscraper\capturescreen.h(3) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory

I have the following directories in my Tools-Options-VC++ Directories-Show directories for: Include files:
$(VCInstallDir)include
$(VCInstallDir)atlmfc\include
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\include\prerelease
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\common\include\prerelea se
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\include
$(VCInstallDir)PlatformSDK\common\include
$(FrameworkSDKDir)include

So: Is windows.h (or Windows.h or any other thing like windows.h) in any of these directories?

The 2005 distribution did not include windows.h (or any of the windows API libraries required to actually create windows applications). PlatformSDK also did not include them, as I recall. There were some rather detailed instructions on the Microsoft site from which I downloaded the compiler package that showed how to obtain and install the SDK for Windows applications. I don't know whether it is still there or is still valid. (You might consider getting a later version of compiler from Microsoft. Still free.)

Bottom line: If you have windows.h somewhere in the "Microsoft Visual Studio 8" directory tree, you must make sure that that directory is in the include path. (You must also put the lib directory with the .dll and .lib files on the path that the linker can find.)

Regards,

Dave

TurboPT · #4 21-Dec-2007, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by davekw7x

PlatformSDK also did not include them, as I recall. There were some rather detailed instructions on the Microsoft site from which I downloaded the compiler package that showed how to obtain and install the SDK for Windows applications. I don't know whether it is still there or is still valid. (You might consider getting a later version of compiler from Microsoft. Still free.)

True, there were actually about 5 steps [one of which was the PlatformSDK] to get everything needed [to build Win32] for the express edition. Check this post. It contains a link to a Microsoft forum that provides each step with links.

SimonP · #5 21-Dec-2007, 15:03

Thanks for all of the helpful replies, I fixed the problem by uninstalling Visual Studio Express Edition 2005,replacing it with Visual Studio Express Edition 2009 and then following the 5 steps in the post linked by TurboPT to install the PlatformSDK.
Is the include <windows.h> statement at the right place in the header file? This compiles but I didn't want to be following any poor coding practices.

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Problem with "#include <windows.h>" in Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

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Re: Problem with "#include <windows.h>" in Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

Re: Problem with "#include <windows.h>" in Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition

Re: Problem with "#include <windows.h>" in Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition