 $Id$


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                How to build c-ares using MSVC or Visual Studio
               =================================================



  How to build using MSVC from the command line
  ---------------------------------------------

  Open a command prompt window and ensure that that the environment is
  properly set up in order to use the compiler tools.

  Change to c-ares source folder where Makefile.msvc file is located and run:

  > nmake -f Makefile.msvc

  This will build all c-ares libraries as well as three sample programs.

  Once the above command has finished a new folder named MSVCXX will exist
  below the subdir where makefile.msvc is found. The name of the folder
  depends on the MSVC compiler version being used to build c-ares.

  Below the MSVCXX folder there will exist four folders named 'cares',
  'ahost', 'acountry', and 'adig'. The 'cares' folder is the one which
  holds the c-ares libraries you have just generated, the other three
  hold sample programs that use the libraries.

  The above command builds four versions of the c-ares library, the dynamic
  and static versions and each of them in release and debug flavours. Each
  of these are found in folders named dll-release, dll-debug, lib-release,
  and lib-debug which hang from the 'cares' folder mentioned above. Each
  sample program also has folders with the same names to reflect which
  library version it is using.


  How to build using Visual Studio 6 IDE
  --------------------------------------

  A VC++ 6.0 reference workspace (vc6aws.dsw) is available within the 'vc'
  folder to allow proper building of the library and sample programs.

  1) Open the vc6aws.dsw workspace with MSVC6's IDE.
  2) Select 'Build' from top menu.
  3) Select 'Batch Build' from dropdown menu.
  4) Make sure that the sixteen project configurations are 'checked'.
  5) Click on the 'Build' button.
  6) Once the sixteen project configurations are built you are done.

  Dynamic and static c-ares libraries are built in debug and release flavours,
  and can be located each one in its own subdirectory, dll-debug, dll-release,
  lib-debug and lib-release, all of them below the 'vc/cares' subdirectory.

  In the same way four executable versions of each sample program are built,
  each using its respective library. The resulting sample executables are
  located in its own subdirectory, dll-debug, dll-release, lib-debug and
  lib-release, below the 'vc/acountry', 'vc/adig' and 'vc/ahost'subdirs.

  These reference VC++ 6.0 configurations are generated using the dynamic CRT.


  How to build using Visual Studio 2003 or newer IDE
  --------------------------------------------------

  First you have to convert the VC++ 6.0 reference workspace and project files
  to the Visual Studio IDE version you are using, following next steps:

  1) Open vc\vc6aws.dsw with VS20XX.
  2) Allow VS20XX to update all projects and workspaces.
  3) Save ALL and close VS20XX.
  4) Open vc\vc6aws.sln with VS20XX.
  5) Select batch build, check 'all' projects and click 'build' button.

  Same comments relative to generated files and folders as done above for
  Visual Studio 6 IDE apply here.


  Relationship between c-ares library file names and versions
  -----------------------------------------------------------

  c-ares static release library version files:

      libcares.lib -> static release library

  c-ares static debug library version files:

      libcaresd.lib -> static debug library

  c-ares dynamic release library version files:

      cares.dll -> dynamic release library
      cares.lib -> import library for the dynamic release library
      cares.exp -> export file for the dynamic release library

  c-ares dynamic debug library version files:

      caresd.dll -> dynamic debug library
      caresd.lib -> import library for the dynamic debug library
      caresd.exp -> export file for the dynamic debug library
      caresd.pdb -> debug symbol file for the dynamic debug library


  How to use the c-ares static libraries
  --------------------------------------

  When using the c-ares static library in your program, you will have to
  define preprocessor symbol CARES_STATICLIB while building your program,
  otherwise you will get errors at linkage stage.


Have Fun!
 
