Not Found Linker Error

Question

Rather disturbing, been running C++ with Visual Studio, OpenGL and glutInit. Have glut.h in the file "c:\freeglut3.0.18\include\GL\glut.h, have saved in the project winap properties VC++, C++ library directories as "c:\freeglut3.0.18\include\GL\ and the Linker as glut.h. Has worked fine but have recently added the command glutInit(...). now get a linker error, cannot find file 'glut.h', winap is my project name. Any help please, this activity has been rather "challenging" to say the least, Sid Kraft.

Answer 1

glut.h is a header file, not a linker input. The linker errors LNK1181 and LNK1104 occur when the linker is told to open a file that does not exist as an input library, or when the path is wrong.

For OpenGL/GLUT setup in Visual Studio:

1. In the source file, include the header, not in linker inputs:
   • #include <GL\glut.h>
2. In project settings, set the include path to the folder that contains the GL folder:
   • VC++ Directories > Include Directories = c:\freeglut3.0.18\include
   • Do not set it to ...\include\GL\ if the code uses #include <GL\glut.h>.
3. Remove glut.h from:
   • Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies The linker expects .lib files there, not header files.
4. If a GLUT library is required by the project, add the corresponding .lib file name in Additional Dependencies, and make sure its folder is listed in:
   • Linker > General > Additional Library Directories
   • or VC++ Directories > Library Directories
5. If the library path contains spaces, ensure it is quoted where required.
6. Make sure the library architecture matches the build target:
   • 32-bit library with 32-bit build
   • 64-bit library with 64-bit build

Why this happens:

• LNK1181: the linker cannot open an input file because the file does not exist or /LIBPATH is missing.
• LNK1104: common causes include incorrect library path, wrong architecture, or specifying the wrong file as a linker dependency.

Also, for Windows OpenGL headers:

• OpenGL core uses <GL\gl.h>
• WGL and Windows support require Windows.h

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References:

• Linker Tools Error LNK1181
• Linker Tools Error LNK1104
• Header Files