C++ Development Methods [Link]
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MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO C++ .NET 2003: DEVELOPING A SIMPLE PROGRAM
This tutorial is meant to serve as a step-by-step walkthrough of the process of developing projects – including creat-
ing/opening, building, and executing – in the Microsoft Visual Studio C++ .NET 2003 Integrated Development En-
vironment (IDE).
Part I: Creating a New C++ Project
1. To open Microsoft Visual Studio C++ .NET 2003, double-click on the Visual Studio C++ .NET 2003 icon
located on the desktop. Alternatively, you may use the Start menu found at the bottom left corner of the
computer desktop – Start >> Programs >> Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 >> Microsoft Visual
Studio .NET 2003.
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2. Once the IDE opens successfully, use your mouse to traverse the File menu. Click File >> New >> Blank
Solution ….
[Link] the New Project dialog box that appears, type “SimpleMediaPlayer” adjacent to Name: and choose the appro-
priate location (recommendation: “C:\cs201\vsprojects\lab00\prelab\SimpleMediaPlayer”). You may use the
Browse … button, as necessary. Click OK.
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3. On the right side of the IDE, you now see a Solution Explorer window. Contained within it is “Solution
‘SimpleMediaPlayer’ (0 projects).” (If this does not appear, simply click on View >> Solution Explorer.)
[Link] the mouse, right-click on “Solution ‘SimpleMediaPlayer’ (0 projects)” within the Solution Explorer win-
dow. A menu pops up. Choose Add >> New Project …. Note: The Existing Project option is also available; this
selection will be of use later.
[Link] Visual C++ Projects >> Win32 within the Project Types frame of the dialog box that appears. Select
Win32 Console project. Provide a name for the project (“SimpleMediaPlayer”) and location (the software will
default to “C:\cs201\vsprojects\lab0\prelab\SimpleMediaPlayer\SimpleMediaPlayer,” once you have specified the
project name). Click OK.
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4. In the Win32 Application Wizard – SimpleMediaPlayer box that appears, select Application Settings.
Keep the Application Type as “Console Application”; select “Empty Project” under Additional Options
by clicking on the checkbox adjacent to it. Click Finish.
5. The number of projects associated with the solution should now be updated to reflect the addition of the
SimpleMediaPlayer project. You should now see a SimpleMediaPlayer project display beneath “Solu-
tion ‘SimpleMediaPlayer’ (1 project)” that includes folders for source, header, and resource files.
Part II: Creating a New C++ Source File
1. Now it is time to create a new C++ source file. Begin by right-clicking upon “SimpleMediaPlayer” in the
Solution Explorer – SimpleMediaPlayer window. A menu appears. For now, select Add >> Add New
Item …. Note: Alternatively, you may create a new file by going to File >> New >> File …, selecting the
appropriate category (e.g., “Visual C++”), and then the provided template (e.g., “C++ File (.cpp)”) and
then adding that file by right-clicking upon SimpleMediaPlayer within the Solution Explorer – Simple-
MediaPlayer >> Add >> Add Existing Item….
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Leave the Visual C++ option selected in the dialog box that appears. Choose “C++ File (.cpp).” Provide a name
and location for the new file in the appropriate fields – “[Link]” and
“C:\cs201\vsprojects\lab00\prelab\SimpleMediaPlayer\SimpleMediaPlayer\”). Click Open. Note: You may also
add other files in a similar fashion; this process will become necessary beginning in the next laboratory assignment.
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2. Now double-click upon the “[Link]” file that appears inside the “Source Files” directory
located under the Solution Explorer – SimpleMediaPlayer window. You are now ready to begin coding
your first software system in the Microsoft Visual Studio C++ .NET 2003 IDE. Use the requirements
specification provided in the pre-laboratory section of the laboratory assignment to proceed.
Part III: Building and Executing
As you write code, it is good software design methodology to use the divide and conquer approach outlined in the
laboratory assignment. In order to do this, you will need to know how to build and execute your software. This
section of this walkthrough aims to show you precisely how to do that.
Note: For this section, the screenshots that appear in this walkthrough will be of a simple “Hello World” program.
However, on your screen, ensure that you have much different code, since you will be completing the assignment
specified in the pre-laboratory section of the laboratory assignment.
1. Before writing your code, make sure you have the following header information included at the top of your
[Link] file: (a) the course number and name; (b) the laboratory number and title; (c) your
name; (d) your laboratory section; and (e) the date. You must follow this protocol on all your code docu-
ments throughout this semester.
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2. Now, to build your software system in Microsoft Visual Studio C++ .NET 2003, use the Build menu:
Build >> Build Solution. Alternatively, you may also use shortcut keys, specifically Ctrl + Shift + B.
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3. An Output window, with Build information, and the corresponding Task List, will appear. Note: If er-
rors exist in your source code, you will see that the build failed in the Output window. Error messages
will appear in the Task List.
Once you have successfully built your software system and no errors exist, you can execute your software by using
options in the Debug menu. You may execute the program without debugging – Debug >> Start Without Debug-
ging (alternatively, Ctrl + F5 – or, as you will see during the in-laboratory exercises, with the Visual Studio Debug-
ger enabled – Debug >> Start (alternatively, F5).
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Starting without debugging will pop-up the Win32 console application, with the output of the program.
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