problems installing openGL

[Kirl]

I installed openGL acording to instructions from a book, but when I try to run the first (downloaded) example program I get an alert saying:

"Program can't start because glut32.dll is missing"

However glut32.dll is right where the book says it should be (Windows\System32). I'm thinking it might have something to do with the fact that I don't save my projects in the default VC++ projects folder?

The only difference from the book instructions is that I put the glut.h header file into C:\Program Files(x86)\... instead of  C:\Program Files\...

[Kirl]

Solved it by copying glut32 to Windows\System instead of Windows\System32...

Seems weird to me because of the suffix 32 and because there were no other dll's in that folder, but at least the example runs now...

[LittleWhite]

Hey Kirl

I think it's a really bad habit to put the DLL directly in thos Windows / System32 folders. Let me explain why.
Right, an executable looks in some folders when it's starting up :
- Windows/System32 (is one of those)
- The current folder too

But, if you put the DLL in the system folder, when you are willing to distribute your programs, you will forgot to join the DLLs (and since other people do not have these DLL, your program will not run).

Voilà

[Kirl]

Thanks for the heads up littleWhite, where do you suggest I put the dlls?

This folder drudgery is pretty terrible. It's the same problem when exporting 3d scenes with textures and my friend was having similar problems with his audio samples recently. It's in need of a revolutionairy update of some sort...

[Jim]

glut32.dll should be in the folder with your exe.  Basically, noone else will have it in their Windows folders (because only Microsoft dlls should live there) and if you distribute your app other people will need a copy.

It's in need of a revolutionairy update of some sort...

Microsoft's answer to this in .Net land is 'manifests' and the GAC.

Jim

[Kirl]

I see, thanks.

When I say revolutionairy I mean something that would solve all folder problems across the board, not just for programming specifically. Meaby the cloud will save us from folder hell...

[Canopy]

good old DLL hell!

M$ has flip flopped on their policy from saying "bung it in system32" to, "keep it with the app"..

right now i believe its "keep it with the app" as that lessens cross app compatibility issues.

but they have added side by side.. which can make things even worse far from revolutionary