Visual Studio 2003 - Compiling XBOX Source Code "LinksBoks" - (RESOLVED)

I don't think I understand your problem completely, but here is some basic stuff:
.obj files are the result of compiling c++ files (in your case). Each obj file corresponds to a .cpp file. On the other side, .lib files, if your project is a static library, are all the .obj files packed together in a library. If you are making a .dll instead, you can still use .lib files to use those .dll further on in another projects. So if you are building a static library (if that is your goal) then you already linked the .obj files in your .lib file I guess.

Assuming you have built a static library (not a dll), the lib file (The lib file is basically just an archive containing the obj files) along with any header files is the complete library.

You should be able to link this library to your own projects.

How to do this is a question on its own and probably differ between different versions of Visual Studio (VS2003 is getting pretty old btw)

This might be a little off topic but why use VS2003? When you can get VS2010 express for free? I would upgrade and yes they can differ between the version. I actually wrote a post somewhere that shows you how to do it is 2010 the permanent way not the project to project way.

Wow! So much attention in less then 24 hours! This place is a god sent! haha, ok, Im gonna try to be more specific on whats going on and show pics as well. brb, might take a second or two. ;)

OK: This pic is the source code I'm working with, it's called "LinksBoks", it's a web browser for the xbox gaming console:



After loading linksboks.sh and building the solution, I get this, this here is the contents of the release folder:


And this, is the contents of the "OUT" folder:


Ok, this is what I try to do once I get to this step. From what I understand, in order for me to get the .XBE file which is the executable for the xbox console, I have to LINK those files together... and THAT'S where I am stuck at...



From what I understand, I have to go to the properties of the file itself, select "LINKER" and then go to "additional dependencies" and then... that's where I get fuzzy on whats next?? At first I couldn't find the LINKER option, and I was told that was because I was looking for it under the "solution level" and that I had to go to the "project level" in order to see it. well... I have no IDEA how to get to the project level lol. The ONLY way I have seen the LINKER option so far is to start a new project and then add it to the solution. Because only after I do that, can I actually see a linker option in "THAT NEW" project I created. If I don't do that, all I see is an option called "LIBRARIAN"

If I just go to the properties section of LinksBoks, after I load the solution file, I get the following:



No linker function. SO then, what I do I decide to create a new project and add it to the solution! Like this:



Once I select the "TEST" one, that's the only time I have seen the linker option:



But I'm completely lost as to what I need to do next in order to output the .XBE file I need.

And to answer the question as to why I'm I using VS.NET 2003, it's because that's the only version that will compile source code for the xbox gaming console.

Your post has been cut.

Your post has been cut.

Sorry, what does "cut" mean?

Linker -> Input is the same page as the one in Librarian.

Linker -> Input is the same page as the one in Librarian.

Ok but, see that's where I'm stuck, explain it to me like I'm 5 years old haha, can you please give me a step by step on that? I would greatly appreciate it man, and thanks!!

In other words a step by step as to where do I put what and when do I press what and so forth to get these OBJ files to LINK together.

Oh and also, no its not, the linker does not show up with librarian, its not there they told me it was because I was looking for it under the solution level, so no its not but, the ONLY time I see it its when I create a NEW project... that's were I'm all confused at...

Ok, I'll try to explain a bit. So in your LinksBoks project, you have a bunch of .cpp files, which are c++ source code. All these are gathered under the project LinksBoks. When you compile a project, it means the compiler will transform your c++ source code into binary (machine) code that can be executed by computer.

When you do this, the first step is to compile each file. Upon compilation, the binary output (what the c++ source code was converted into) is stored in an .obj file. Each file has its corresponding .obj file, which in your case are stored in Release\OUT folder.

After that, the files are linked together by the linker into a final file, which can have various extensions, depending on the target chosen by the developer. They can be .exe (executable file), .lib (static library file) or .dll (dynamically linked library file). In your case, it is a .lib file. After you get your .lib file, you can ignore the .obj files all together, or delete them if you so wish. They are kept there only for the compiler convenience, so it doesn't have to generate them again if nothing has changed in their corresponding files. So forget about those, all you need is that one, the .lib file.

By you having that file it means that if you include that in another project (an .exe, or .xbe in your case), you can access it's functions (in this case browser functionality). So I see that you already created your project called TEST. In order to use your LinksBoks.lib file in TEST project, you must do the following steps:

1. In Linker->General->Additional Library Directories you have the add the path to the folder where LinksBoks.lib file resides (in your case C:\documents and settings\Administrator\Desktop\lib\Release).

2. Go to Linker->Input and in additional dependencies type LinksBoks.lib.

Then if you want to use its functionality, you must include its header file in your TEST project source code and use it from there. If you do that, you will notice it won't link correctly only after you have done my two steps above.

Hope it helps.

Ok, I'll try to explain a bit. So in your LinksBoks project, you have a bunch of .cpp files, which are c++ source code. All these are gathered under the project LinksBoks. When you compile a project, it means the compiler will transform your c++ source code into binary (machine) code that can be executed by computer. When you do this, the first step is to compile each file. Upon compilation, the binary output (what the c++ source code was converted into) is stored in an .obj file. Each file has its corresponding .obj file, which in your case are stored in Release\OUT folder. After that, the files are linked together by the linker into a final file, which can have various extensions, depending on the target chosen by the developer. They can be .exe (executable file), .lib (static library file) or .dll (dynamically linked library file). In your case, it is a .lib file. After you get your .lib file, you can ignore the .obj files all together, or delete them if you so wish. They are kept there only for the compiler convenience, so it doesn't have to generate them again if nothing has changed in their corresponding files. So forget about those, all you need is that one, the .lib file. By you having that file it means that if you include that in another project (an .exe, or .xbe in your case), you can access it's functions (in this case browser functionality). So I see that you already created your project called TEST. In order to use your LinksBoks.lib file in TEST project, you must do the following steps: 1. In Linker->General->Additional Library Directories you have the add the path to the folder where LinksBoks.lib file resides (in your case C:\documents and settings\Administrator\Desktop\lib\Release). 2. Go to Linker->Input and in additional dependencies type LinksBoks.lib. Then if you want to use its functionality, you must include its header file in your TEST project source code and use it from there. If you do that, you will notice it won't link correctly only after you have done my two steps above. Hope it helps.

Dude, you have no idea how much I appreciate that info! Thanks so much for that!! Everything made sense to me except the last part on adding the header file, how do I do that? and can you give a brief explanation as to the function of headers files as well? Thanks again bro!

I am sorry but you will have to learn C++ for that. Even if I would try to explain you, I could not succeed, as it is one of the foundations of C/C++ itself and you must have basic knowledge of the language first (in which case you would already know what a header file is).

I suspect we are giving you misleading advice here.

According to this article you are supposed to end up with a file called [color=#232323][font=sans-serif]LinksBoks.xbe that should be placed in some media folder on the xbox.[/font]

I am sorry but you will have to learn C++ for that. Even if I would try to explain you, I could not succeed, as it is one of the foundations of C/C++ itself and you must have basic knowledge of the language first (in which case you would already know what a header file is).

I see ok man, thanks for all the help!

Hey, would this be the header file you were talking about? and if so, how would I add that to TEST?

Indeed pulpfist, I guess he doesn't have the Xbox Dev Kit.

Indeed pulpfist, I guess he doesn't have the Xbox Dev Kit.

No I do, its "XDK 5849". And yeah pulpfist, I saw that too, but that was written for an older version of linksboks. That also added to my confusion as well.

EDIT: This link has info on all version of linksboks:

http://www.xbins.org/index.php?action=search&searchtxt=linksboks&Submit=Search

I'm trying to compile 0.99

No man... *sigh* it didn't work...

I decided to start from scratch and created a new xbox project called new, I did this:

1. In Linker->General->Additional Library Directories you have the add the path to the folder where LinksBoks.lib file resides (in your case C:\documents and settings\Administrator\Desktop\lib\Release).

2. Go to Linker->Input and in additional dependencies type LinksBoks.lib. [/quote]

and hit build... nope... chuck tesla, errors all over the place...

You showed us a lot of stuff, but I guess you would have to link to the build instructions themselves. I feel like I don't see the big picture.

You showed us a lot of stuff, but I guess you would have to link to the build instructions themselves. I feel like I don't see the big picture.

This link has info on all version of linksboks:

http://www.xbins.org...p;Submit=Search

I'm trying to build 0.99

Ok I'm not into xbox but here is what I would try:

1. Set up a fresh copy of the linksboks code
2. Double click the linksboks.sln to have the project opened in visual studio
3. Choose "build" form the menus
4. Look for a file called LinksBoks.xbe

If that doesn't work I wouldn't really know what's wrong, but any error messages could be interesting to see...