It sounds like you have done most everything correctly so far, but just in case, I will list out several steps.
Create the global variable
boost with
extract_dir as the
base. (This is
C:\Libraries\boost_1_47_0 on my computer.) The other fields do not need anything (except possibly
lib; if you used a custom directory while building boost, put the path here).
Next (assuming you are starting a project, not adding to an existing one), create a new project (a console app should be fine; see
this page if you need step-by-step instructions on that).
In this project, open
Project->Build options... and ensure that the overall name of the project is selected in the left-hand column (for example,
boost_test). Switch to the
Search directories tab and click
Add (for the
Compiler tab). In the box, type
$(#boost) and click
OK.
Many features of boost do not require any libraries, (
asio included). Here is a
list of what does require linking.
(Edit:) Asio
depends on Boost.System and may need Boost.Regex and
OpenSSL depending on what you are doing.
To test the current configuration, put this (from
here) in the main cpp.
#include <boost/lambda/lambda.hpp>
#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <algorithm>
int main()
{
using namespace boost::lambda;
typedef std::istream_iterator<int> in;
std::for_each(
in(std::cin), in(), std::cout << (_1 * 3) << " " );
}
If it compiles you are in business. Accessing assio can be done by inserting the following line.
#include <boost/asio.hpp>
If in working you ever come up with an
undefined reference error, it will usually indicate a library does need to be linked. In this case, return to the main project's search directories settings, but this time on the
Linker tab. Add
$(#boost)\lib (or
$(#boost.lib) if you set up the
lib variable); this should point to the directory with all the
lib*.a files.
After this, go to the
Linker settings tab and add (using the
Add button of course) the needed library or libraries. (For example,
boost_filesystem for the
Boost.Filesystem library - basically the name of the file minus the
lib and the
.a.)