How do I link a DLL to my project? error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol

Question

I have a file foo.h that has various declarations for functions. All of these functions are implemented in a file foo.dll. However, when I include the .h file and try to use any of the functions, I get the error:

bar.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol SomeFunction

so obviously the function implementations aren't being found.

What do I have to do to help the compiler find the definitions in the DLL and associate them with the .h file?

I've seen some stuff about __declspec(dllexport) and __declspec(dllimport) but I still can't figure out how to use them.

Are you linking your executable with the import library of `foo.dll` (usually named `foo.lib`)? — Frédéric Hamidi, Feb 26 '13 at 13:34
I'm new to this so I'm not really sure how that's done. Is that in visual studio's properties for the project? — xcdemon05, Feb 26 '13 at 13:35

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 26 '13 at 14:04

You should have received at least three files from the DLL owner. The DLL which you'll need at runtime, the .h file with the declarations of the exported functions, you already have that. And a .lib file, the import library for the DLL. Which the linker requires so it knows how to add the functions to the program's import table.

You are missing the step where you told the linker that it needs to link the .lib file. It needs to be added to the linker's Input + Additional Dependencies setting of your project. Or most easily done by writing the linker instruction in your source code:

#include "foo.h"
#pragma comment(lib, "foo.lib")

Which works for MSVC, not otherwise portable but linking never is. Copy the .lib file to your project directory or specify the full path.

Is there a difference between using `#pragma comment` and adding the lib file to `Project Properties > Linker > Input`? — Nitay, Dec 08 '15 at 17:23
There is no difference, you simply can't forget to change that setting. — Hans Passant, Dec 08 '15 at 17:43

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 13 '15 at 01:07

10

I just had a similar problem. The solution turned out to be that the DLL was 64 bit, and the simple app using it was 32. I had forgotten to change it to x64 in the Configuration Manager.

answered Jan 13 '15 at 01:07

DarenW

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You just saved my day after three hours of searching the internet. – Dan Feb 26 '15 at 05:06
This is from more than three years ago, and I still make this exact same error every time. Bless your soul, DarenW. – user1910744 Jun 27 '18 at 12:43

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

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You need to specify in front of function definitions __declspec(dllexport) keyword at the time of building the dll
You need to import or load the .dll file into process memory.
You need to acquire the address of function you want to use from that dll.

Some useful links to get started:: MSDN Documentation, SO, Random

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

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answered Feb 26 '13 at 14:02

Abhineet

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How do I link a DLL to my project? error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol

3 Answers3

Linked