Introducing Microsoft Visual C++ V6.0

This tutorial is only meant to help you get started with the Microsfot Visual C++ tools, version 6.0.  This tutorial was first written in great haste, helpful comments will be appreciated.  Barbra Johnston't text C++ Programming Today comes with a copy of Microsoft Visual C++ tools, version 6.0 on CD-ROM that you can install on a home PC. 

The computers in UT212 do not allow students direct access to the C: drive, rather the S: drive is used.  To access applications, first open the local applications window. 

Start => Programs => Local Apps UT212

With the local appications window open, simply double click on the application icon.  For example, double clicking on the Windows Explorer icon starts Windows Explorer.  In working at home however, you may have to click the following before selecting a desired program.  Also replace references to S: with C: for your own hard drive. 

Start => Programs

Before starting Visual C++ for the first time, make a folder that you will work from.  If you are at home, double click the My Computer icon and double click to open the C: drive.  If you are at school, double click to open the Windows Explorer icon and navigate to open the S: drive and in the file area right click and select the following:

New => Folder

Start => Programs => Microsoft Visual C++ => Microsoft Visual C++

Visual C++ is 'project oriented' in that each program you write will be organized into a so called project.  Natually, the first thing to do is make a new project.  With the mouse, in the Visual C++ window click on:

File => New

New project file browser button

Use the Choose Directory pop-up window to navigate, to find the folder you made earlier, then click OK.  Examine the rest of the window and compare it to that below and then click OK. 

In the next window check the An empty project button and click Finish and in the final pop-up window click OK.  Next, create a new file.  In the Visual C++ window, select

File => New

Enter the following text into the new source code window.  Except for minor changes, this program is from section 1.1 of Johnston's text.  The '//' symbols form the start of a comment.  In this simple example, replace my name with yours.  Get into the habbit of inserting into the top of evey file you create, a comment that includes the file name, your name, and a brief decription of what the program does.

// AddTwo.cpp - Jonathan Hill
// Add two numbers that a user enters

#include <iostream.h>

int main()
{
  int A,B,C;

  cout << "\n Please enter two numbers ";
  cin >> A >> B;

  C = A + B;

  cout << "\n The sum is " << C << "\n";

  return 0;
}

File => Save
Build => Build Addtwo.exe

Build => Execute Addtwo.exe

 Please enter two numbers 2 3

 The sum is 5
 To exit, depress the 'Enter' key
Press any key to continue

Congratulations, you have just executed your first program using Microsoft Visual C++ version 6.0.  The actual executable file 'AddTwo.exe' is in the subfolder named Debug.  The next step is learning how to save and close, and later reopen a project.  The saving and closing part is easy.  With the mouse select the following.

File => Save
File => Save Workspace
File => Exit

In the future when you want to reopen the project, you can use windows to navigate to the file and double click on the .dsw workspace file.  This action opens Visual C++ with the corresponding project in the state that you previously saved it in.  Alternatively, you can open Visual C++ and then open an existing workspace.

File => Open Workspace