Why is VCPP Jacked up?

[IWishIKnew]

I don't get it. VCPP doesn't allow you to include standard preprocessor directives such as <iostream> or <fstream>. Instead if has stdafx.h or whatever. Why is it like this and what can i do to be able to use REAL C++ libraries?

[Disch]

If you create a project with the default settings, it enables precompiled headers, which puts everything in that stdafx.h

If don't want that, when you make a new project, be sure to check the "Empty Project" box. Then it works normally.

[kbw]

The inclusion of stdafx.h doesn't stop you from adding your own include files. It's just really annoying.

[IWishIKnew]

So you add the files to the project or somthing? I want to check this out before I download (a very unreasonably large) program. Right now, im exploring it at school.

VCPP have the advantage of an easier GUI creation interface, which is why I'm looking into it.

[kbw]

What files do you mean, the standard iostream, fstream, ... No, you don't add these to the project, you just include them in your source file(s).

[IWishIKnew]

I don't understand... how are you supposed to write C++ without the basic include files?

[Disch]

I don't understand... how are you supposed to write C++ without the basic include files?

Huh? You can always include the standard header files. Nobody is saying otherwise.

"stdafx.h" is just a precompiled header that VC++ throws in there. Precompiled headers can potentially speed up compile times, but I find they can often create problems/compiletime oddities so I avoid them unless compiling without them is REALLY slow.

If you don't want to use them, don't. When you make a project in VC++, simply check the "Make Empty Project" checkbox and VC++ will make a "normal" project without the stdafx.h crap.

[IWishIKnew]

ohhh. So Code::Blocks has precompiled headers?

Another question: Where can i find informational/instructional resources for creating a GUI program with VCPP?

Will <iostream> etc. work with GUI in VCPP?

[kbw]

#include <iostream> will be recognised by any C++03 compliant compilers, including Visual C++ versions 6.0, 7.0, 7.1, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0.

Why don't you just use it? I can't believe you're still asking about this.

[IWishIKnew]

I figured it out, but i cant get the labels and buttons to interact. I need a resource. Can anyone point me to a website that i can use for reference?

[IWishIKnew]

What i would like to do is make a check book type of program. It will open a file, get the information and change a label accordingly, but the <iostream> library doesnt seem to be working with it...

[kbw]

I see. Why do you think it isn't working?

[IWishIKnew]

It is not that it is not working. It's more along the lines of consol vs win32. I want to make a graphic interface but i have no experience with makeing one. I have a lot of experience, though, with console programming.
here is a code sample:

#pragma endregion
	private: System::Void balance_Click(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
				 string line;
				 ifstream f;
				 f.open("bal.dat", ios::in);
				 if(!f.is_open())
				 {
					 line = "0.00";
					 balance = line;
				 }
				 getline(f, line);
				 balance = line;
			 }
	};
}

here are the errors i get when this is compiled with the rest of the VCPP stuff:

1>c:\users\username\desktop\gui c#\project_gui.h(99): error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'std::string' to 'System::Windows::Forms::Label ^'
1>          No user-defined-conversion operator available, or
1>          No user-defined-conversion operator available that can perform this conversion, or the operator cannot be called
1>c:\users\username\desktop\gui c#\project_gui.h(102): error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'std::string' to 'System::Windows::Forms::Label ^'
1>          No user-defined-conversion operator available, or
1>          No user-defined-conversion operator available that can perform this conversion, or the operator cannot be called
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

also, i did have the basic preprocessor includes:

<iostream>, <fstream>, and <string> for this. So it is somthing else...

[kbw]

Those are syntax errors. It has nothing to do with header files. You really should stop blaming the tools.

I guess the errors are in:

    balance = line

I am not sure about this, but you may need this instead:

    balance.Text = line.c_str();

[IWishIKnew]

if you read my code, you would know that 'line' is declared as a string. Also, balance.Text is a syntactical error. It indicates a data structure. I think you are talking aboiut Basic and not C++.

and btw, im not blaming the "tools". I'm simply expressing my confusion with the way Visual C++ is.

[Disch]

Your code is C++/CLI, which (despite the name) is an entirely different language from C++.

I'm not sure if <iostream> will work with C++/CLI because it's a C++ header, not a C++/CLI header.

[naraku9333]

Try

private: System::Void balance_Click(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
				 string line;
				 ifstream f;
				 f.open("bal.dat", ios::in);
                                 String^ sysString;
				 if(!f.is_open())
				 {
					 line = "0.00";
                                         sysString = gcnew String(line.c_str());
					 balance->Text = sysString;
				 }
				 getline(f, line);
                                 sysString = gcnew String(line.c_str());
				 balance->Text = sysString;
			 }

@Disch From my very limited CLI experience std headers can be included and used.

[IWishIKnew]

Are there any references for C++/CLI? What is CLI?

[kbw]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379617%28v=vs.80%29.aspx