How to compile RasterSaver for Borland C++ Builder 5
====================================================


James Ward (www.crema.co.uk)
Created: 16th August 2002

Here is a procedure for compiling the RasterSaver source
code under Borland C++ Builder. This was prompted by a
request from Grzegorz Krol. I know that quite a few people
use Builder, so here goes...

It's a bit messy, because there is no 'scrnsave.lib' for
Builder as far as I know. For this reason, I might put the
required LIB file: 'bcb_scrnsave.lib' on my site. Watch
this space :)

These instructions are not finished: this builds an
application with a console window. The project options need
tweaking to get rid of this. Still, it does seem to work.

Here are the instructions:

0. Install the screen saver using the self-extracting
   installer (ie. download and install binary version
   first). This ensures that the requires textures and
   models will be found when you compile+run the
   project.

1. Create new project with console wizard
   (File.. New.. Console Wizard)
2. In Console Wizard, specify:
     C++ Source
     Don't use VCL
     Don't build Console Application
3. Specify project source:
     Pick 'MySaver.cpp' file.
4. Save project as 'RasterSaver.bpr"
   (File.. Save Project As..)
5. In Project Manager, click on 'RasterSaver.exe'
   to select it, then right click to add files.
   Add the following files:
     Saver.cpp
     Model.cpp
6. In Project Options, under the C++ tab, change
   the compatibility settings to:
     "Don't restrict for loop scope"
   Alternatively, alter the source code to correct
   cases where for loop scope is restricted (this
   is a Borland/Microsoft compiler difference).
7. Program needs 'scrnsave.lib', which is a static
   library supplied with MS Visual C++ and doesn't
   work in Borland C++ Builder. Oops. We will need
   to find a way to convert or recompile this lib!

8. Find source code for 'scrnsave.lib':
   I did a google search:
     scrnsave.lib skeleton.c
   Which finds this:
     http://therabbithole.redback.inficad.com/tricks/GameProgrammingStarterKit/vc/SAMPLES/SDK/SDKTOOLS/SCRNSAVE
   ..but I guess that won't be around forever. You can also
   find the source in the Microsoft SDK I think.
8a.Save the RasterSaver project, and close it.
9. Make a Borland C++ Builder 'library' project,
   using C files from above SDK link, build the
   library. You will want to pick 'Release' compiler
   options under: Project Options.. Compiler.. Release mode
   I chose to call this 'bcb_scrnsave.lib' to avoid confusion.
9a.You might need to make some source code modifications to the
   'scrnsave.lib' source on your system (depending on the version
   of the source that you are using - I think that the one I used
   might date back to the WIN3.1 days). See Note 1 at end.
9b.Save the 'bcb_scrnsave' project, and close it.

10.Open the RasterSaver project again. Add the new 'bcb_scrnsave.lib'
   library to the RasterSaver.exe project in the Project Manager.
11.In Project Options, Application tab, set the filename
   extension to 'scr' instead of 'exe'
12.In Project Options, Compiler tab, select Release mode.
13.Under Run.. Parameters.. insert the following command
   line parameter: /s
   This will allow you to directly run the saver from within
   the IDE.
14.Add the resources to the project: 'RasterSave.rc'
   I needed to comment out the line: #include "afxres.h"
   form the resource file.
   Resources are needed for configuration/about dialog, but not
   for the saver itself.
15.Build and run the final project (F9)
16.The screen saver should start: note that the textures and
   models will only work if the screen saver has been already
   installed, since it will look for the registry keys to
   locate the files (failing that, it looks in default
   installation path).

17.OPTIONAL: Build the libraries into the executable - this avoids
   problems with missing DLLs, particularly when moving the EXE/SCR
   onto a different PC that doesn't have Builder installed:
      * Go to Project Options
      * Under 'Packages' tab, uncheck the 'Build with runtime packages'
        option.
      * Under 'Linker' tab, uncheck the 'Use dynamic RTL' option.
   The program shouldn't complain about missing DLLs then, but this
   does make the executable quite a bit larger :)

---

If anyone has any corrections or ideas on a better way of doing
this, please let me know. Also, if anything is unclear then get
in touch and I'll update these instructions. Using the instructions
here, I was able to build and run the screen saver from the IDE.

best of luck!
  James.

---

Note 1:
Source changes to scrnsave.lib source code:
  1. In SKELETON.C, change the declaration of DefScreenSaverProc
     to match the one in 'SCRNSAVE.H'.
  2. In SKELETON.C, in function DoConfigureDialog when it calls
     the DialogBox() function, change the (WNDPROC) cast into a
     (DLGPROC) cast.