[galib] Building GALib DLL: GAID is a problem!

[Peter Jay Salzman]

On Fri 26 Oct 07,  2:20 PM, Peter Jay Salzman <p at dirac.org> said:
> Hi all,
> 
> I've compiled a GALib DLL (which actually exports symbols), but so far, I've
> not been able to *use* the DLL.  However, there are 2 specific questions I'd
> like to ask.
> 
> 
> First Question:
> 
>    I've placed "GA_DLLDECL" in every non-template class definition except
>    for "GAID".   When I change this definition:
> 
>          class GAID
>          {
>             ...
> 
>    to this:
> 
>          class GA_DLLDECL GAID
>          {
>             ...
> 
>    I get the following compile time error:
> 
> 
>       gaid.h(30) : error C2470: 'GAID' :
>       looks like a function definition, but there is no parameter list;
>       skipping apparent body
> 
>    I understand what the compiler is telling me.  I just don't know how to
>    "fix" it, since it doesn't look like a parameterless function to me.
> 
> 
> 
> Second Question:
> 
>    In the project settings, I use in Properties | C/C++ | Command Line:
> 
>       /D "COMPILE_GALIB_AS_DLL"
>       /D "_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE"
> 
>    However, when I look in gaconfig.h at this code:
> 
>       #if defined(COMPILE_GALIB_AS_DLL)
>       #define GA_DLLDECL __declspec(dllexport)    <--- greyed out
>       #elif defined(USE_GALIB_AS_DLL)
>       #define GA_DLLDECL __declspec(dllimport)    <--- greyed out
>       #else
>       #define GA_DLLDECL                          <--- colored
>       #endif
> 
>    Because the 2nd line is greyed out and the 6th line is colored, it looks
>    like VC++ is not seeing my #define for COMPILE_GALIB_AS_DLL.
> 
>    Furthermore, when I let the mouse hover over this line of code:
> 
>       class GA_DLLDECL GAID
> 
>    a box pops up saying "#define GA_DLLDECL", not "__declspec(dllexport)".
>    So it really really seems like VS is not seeing my #define.
> 
> 
> I noticed many similar question in the archives, but the answers are either
> non-applicable (I'm not using gcc) or else not correct (I'm already
> compiling this as a C++ program).
> 
> Help?
> 
> Thanks!
> Pete

Figured it out.  And this would answer many of the questions asked about
this particular class over the years.

You need to #include "gaconfig.h" in gaid.h.  Otherwise GA_DLLDECL has no
definition.  The compiler thinks it's a function called GAID that
returns a class called GA_DLLDECL.  The next character is a "{" which starts
the function body, but since there's no "()", there's no parameter list.

Bingo!

I've successfully created the DLL.

I'm still getting an unresolved reference to a void __cdecl
GARandomSeed(unsigned int)" when compiling an example program.  Figuring
that out right now...

This has been a fairly painful experience.  Has development stopped on
GALib?

And why does the mailing list require registration if the messages are being
moderated by hand?

Pete