The Basics of Creating a Static Library Using Visual C++

Now modify the header to be as:

#pragma once
extern "C" {
int Test(int a, int b);
}

Note that the extern "C" makes the function callable by C and by other languages as well. The disadvantage of extern "C" is that it prevents use of classes and other C++ features with any functions exposed for use by callers of the static library. Modify the implementation file to be:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "StaticLibrarySample.h"
extern "C" {
int Test(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}
}

You can now build the project. The build will look something as:

1>------ Build started: Project: StaticLibrarySample, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
1>  stdafx.cpp
1>  StaticLibrarySample.cpp
1>  StaticLibrarySample.vcxproj -> C:\Users\Sam\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\
C-SharpCorner Articles\StaticLibrarySample\Debug\StaticLibrarySample.lib
========== Build: 1 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

Using the Static Library

To create a program that uses the library, go to the Solution Explorer and right-click on the Solution. Select "Add" | "New Project...". Create a Visual C++ Win32 Console Application. In the Application Settings window, keep the defaults; we do not want an empty project and we do want pre-compiled headers. The "Add New Project" window will look something as:

When the project has been generated, set it as the Startup project.

We need to add the include directory to the project. Go to the Solution Explorer and right-click on the test project, then select "Properties". In the left side, under "Configuration properties" expand the "C/C++" node, then select "General". In the top-right is "Configuration"; change it to "All Configurations". Then in "Additional Include Directories" add the directory of the static library project where the static library's header (StaticLibrarySample.h) is at. The window will look something like:

Next we need to specify the library to be used. In the project properties, and with the configuration set for All Configurations, go to the "Input" node of the "Linker" properties. In the "Additional Dependencies" add the name of the static library; just the filename and extension, but not the directory. The properties window will look something like:

If you click in the box for entering the Additional Dependencies then you will see an arrow at the right of that. Click the arrow and select "<Edit...>". You will then get a dialog for editing the dependencies that looks like:

Next we need to specify the directory of the library. That is done in the project properties, but this time we will specify different directories for each configuration. So with the configuration set for "Active(Debug)", go to the "General" node of the "Linker" properties. Specify the directory where the Debug configuraton of the library is at. The property page will look something like:

Do the same for the Release configuration.

Then in the test program's cpp file, after the include for "stdafx.h", add an #include for "StaticLibrarySample.h". Then in the main function, add the line:

_tprintf(_T("%d"), Test(1, 9));

One more thing worth doing is to ensure that the solution knows that the test project depends on the static library. Go to the Solution Explorer again but right-click on the Solution then choose Properties. Then in the left side click on "Project Dependencies" under the "Common Properties" node. Ensure that the test project has the checkbox checked for the static library. That property page looks like:

Build and test the program.