- 1 year ago
cl.exe not generating functions that can be accessed externally
If cl.exe
is not generating functions that can be accessed externally, it might be due to missing or incorrect compiler options. Here are a few suggestions to address the issue:
Check Compiler Options: Ensure that you have specified the appropriate compiler options to generate functions that can be accessed externally. In particular, check for the following:
- Use the
/DLL
option to generate a dynamic-link library (DLL) that contains the functions you want to access externally. - Specify the
/EXPORT
option followed by the names of the functions you want to export. For example,/EXPORT:MyFunction
will export a function namedMyFunction
.
- Use the
Verify Function Signature: Ensure that the functions you want to access externally have the correct signature. The functions should have the proper return type, parameters, and calling convention (e.g.,
__cdecl
or__stdcall
) that matches the expected usage.Use Appropriate Linkage Specification: In your C or C++ code, ensure that you have used the appropriate linkage specification to indicate that the functions should have external linkage. In C, you can use
extern
keyword, while in C++, you can useextern "C"
to specify C linkage.- For example, in C:c
extern void MyFunction();
- In C++:cpp
extern "C" void MyFunction();
- For example, in C:
Check Function Naming: Make sure that the functions you want to access externally have unique and valid names. Avoid name conflicts with other functions or symbols in your code.
Resolve Name Mangling: If you're using C++ and encountering name mangling issues, you may need to use the
extern "C"
linkage specification to prevent the C++ compiler from altering the function names during compilation. This ensures that the function names match the expected names when accessing them externally.Verify Compiler and Platform Compatibility: Ensure that the compiler you are using is compatible with the target platform. Check if you're using the correct compiler version and options for generating functions that can be accessed externally on the specific platform you're targeting.
By following these steps and verifying your compiler options, function signatures, and linkage specifications, you should be able to generate functions that can be accessed externally using cl.exe
.