Import library filename not work / not saved !

[Feneck91]

I'm creating dynamic libraries with codeblocks SVN 7141.
In project properties / Build Targets, I choose Type = Dynamic Library
To be able to link with this lib, I must create a .a (MinGW)  or .lib (Visual) and check "Create import library"
ok, no problem.

In the field import library filename I change $(TARGET_OUTPUT_DIR)$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME) by lib\$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME)
to be able to write the lib (.a) into the project folder under "lib" directory.
1> If the lib folder doesn't exists, it is not created automatically, why ? So, I must create lib folder and it's work.
2> I save all (project / workspace / files / etc) and quit Code::Blocks.
3> Run Codeblocks and re-open workspace / projetc.
4> In the field import library filename there is no change: it left $(TARGET_OUTPUT_DIR)$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME) and no lib\$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME) so this option is not saved properly.

Any idea ?

[MortenMacFly]

You misunderstood the option. "import library filename" does really ONLY mean the file's name, not including a path. To setup the path you need to change the "output filename" accordingly (the one where you can actually pick a file with the "..." button).

If you are unsure, leave the filed "import file name" as it is.

[Feneck91]

Thanks for your reply.

Imagine, I have a /RootWorkspace/FooProject

If I want to generate a dynamic library foo into ../bin/Debug/foo.dll (so in /RootWorkspace/bin/Debug/foo.dll)
and a library file (.a) into FooProject/lib/foo.a
How I can do ? Is it possible or the dll file and .a are always generated at the same place ?

Because I a several dll / exe and I want to link all executable into ../bin/Debug (or release) directory and let all lib into their respective folder project path.

[MortenMacFly]

If I want to generate a dynamic library foo into ../bin/Debug/foo.dll (so in /RootWorkspace/bin/Debug/foo.dll)
and a library file (.a) into FooProject/lib/foo.a
How I can do ?

You can only do, what the compiler allows to do. GCC does not allow that.

So: EITHER you put everything in ../bin/Debug/, add this path to the linker options and remove the export libraries for distribution OR you create everything in FooProject/lib/ and copy the DLL to ../bin/Debug/ in a post build step (probably using macros to make it more generic).

[Feneck91]

I thought like you, so I create everything in FooProject/lib/ and copy the DLL to ../bin/Debug/ in a post build step but in DOS MODE (copy).
What is macro ? Is it possible to make generic copy (not depending on target plateform ?

(probably using macros to make it more generic).

What kind of macros ?
I use to copy wxWidgets dll from to bin\output\ I use script like :

Code

[[IO.CopyFile(_("$(#wx)/lib/gcc_dll/wxmsw$(#wxver)ud_gcc.dll"), _("../bin/$(output)/wxmsw$(#wxver)ud_gcc.dll"),false);]]

But it always as me if it is confidence or not... Not really cool to use. Another way ?

[MortenMacFly]

Code

[[IO.CopyFile(_("$(#wx)/lib/gcc_dll/wxmsw$(#wxver)ud_gcc.dll"), _("../bin/$(output)/wxmsw$(#wxver)ud_gcc.dll"),false);]]

But it always as me if it is confidence or not... Not really cool to use. Another way ?

Sure. You can use plain (Win32-)SHELL commands, like xcopy or just copy. With macros I meant making use of e.g. $(TARGET_OUTPUT_FILE) or alike...

For example: I've a project that compiles the DLL's and link libs in a .lib folder. Then I setup a batch "make copy.bat" file like this:

Code

@echo off
if not exist "%1" goto PluginNotFound
if "%2"==""       goto MissingPluginName

if     exist "..\%2.dll" (
  rem copy the file only, if the ARCHIVE flag is set
  rem (avoid copying if file is unchanged)
  echo Updating %2...
  rem D: Only newer files (by date)
  rem M: Copy on / and reset archive attribute
  rem Y: Answer queries about overwriting with "Yes"
  xcopy "%1" .. /D /M /Y
)
if not exist "..\%2.dll" (
  echo Copying %2...
  copy  "%1" ..
)
goto TheEnd

:PluginNotFound
echo Error: Plugin not found.
goto TheEnd

:MissingPluginName
echo Error: Name of the plugin not provided.
goto TheEnd

:TheEnd

As a post-build step I can then use:
make_copy.bat $(TARGET_OUTPUT_FILE) $(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME)
...for all plugin DLL's I'd like to copy.

Notice that you would need to adjust the path ("..") in the batch file accordingly, so it matches your setup.

[scarphin]

Here is what works for me. Say I have a 'fubar' project in

Code

projects\fubar\

where the 'fubar.cbp' resides. Then I create a 'dynamic dll' target and set the output filename to

Code

bin\Debug\foo.dll

and the import library filename to

Code

lib\$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME)dbg

.The lib folder must be created before building the target.

After I build the target I have a 'foo.dll' in

Code

fubar\bin\debug\

folder and a 'libfoodbg.a' in

Code

fubar\lib\

folder as I want them and set them to be. But when I restart CB import library filename setting reverts back to

Code

$(TARGET_OUTPUT_DIR)$(TARGET_OUTPUT_BASENAME)

and make me lose the setting. The linker can definitely create the target dll and the import library in different folders so I don't get what doesn't work here to make this setting not saved?

OS: Win 7
CB: svn 7173, May 28 Nightly
MinGW GCC: v4.5.2