+
+
Thank you for choosing the
+Visual C++ Toolkit!
+
+
+
+
Use the free Visual C++ Toolkit to build your ISO C++ Standard code, to
+evaluate new compiler features, and to get a feel for some of the capabilities
+included with Visual Studio .NET
+2003. The tools and libraries
+included with the Toolkit are a subset of the features and capabilities of
+Visual Studio .NET 2003
+Professional. Buy Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional and get a full Integrated
+Development Environment (IDE), an award-winning debugger, additional C++
+libraries including ATL and MFC, and much more.
+
+
+
+
Learn more about Visual C++ at http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc
+
+
+
+
Learn more about Visual Studio at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/
+
+
+
+
+
+
What’s Included, and What’s Not Included
+
+
+
+
The Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 is a free download and does not include
+customer support or specific documentation. Please refer to documentation
+for the Visual C++ compiler and libraries online at:
+
+
+
+
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/vcedit/html/vcorivisualcmainnode.asp
+
+
+
+
Please refer to the End User License Agreement (EULA.TXT) and
+Redistributable File List (REDIST.TXT) for complete licensing
+information. In general, applications and components built using the
+Visual C++ Toolkit may be redistributed without restriction.
+
+
+
+
The Visual C++ Toolkit includes the core tools and libraries necessary
+to build basic C++ applications and programs:
+
+
+
+
+ - Microsoft
+ C/C++ Optimizing Compiler and Linker. These are the same compiler
+ and linker that ship with Visual Studio .NET
+ 2003 Professional!
+
+
+
+
+
+ - C Runtime
+ Library and the C++ Standard Library, including the Standard Template
+ Library. These are the same static-link libraries included with
+ Visual Studio. Visual Studio also ships these libraries in
+ dynamic-link versions, and with full source code.
+
+
+
+
+
+ - Microsoft .NET Framework Common Language Runtime.
+ Visual C++ can optionally build applications that run on the Common
+ Language Runtime (CLR).
+
+
+
+
+
+ - Sample
+ code. The toolkit includes four samples designed to showcase the
+ powerful new features of the 2003 version, including new optimization capabilities,
+ features to improve code-security and robustness, enhanced ISO C++
+ standards support, and the ability to use the .NET
+ Framework library and target the CLR.
+
+
+
+
+
The Visual C++ Toolkit does not include several core features found in
+Visual Studio .NET 2003.
+
+
+
+
+ - Visual Studio
+ Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The Visual Studio IDE
+ incorporates multitudes of developer tools
+ including code editors, the Visual Studio debugger, and a project
+ system. Learn more about Visual Studio at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio.
+
+
+
+
+
+ - Microsoft
+ Foundation Class (MFC) and Active Template Libraries (ATL). These
+ robust and mature libraries provide C++ developers with encapsulated
+ functionality for building Windows-based applications. In
+ Visual Studio these are provided with complete source code.
+
+
+
+
+
+ - Advanced developer tools, including compilers and tools
+ for developing using other languages like Visual Basic and C#.
+ Visual Studio provides developers with a complete toolset for building all
+ types of applications and components for Windows and .NET.
+
+
+
+
+
Using the Visual C++ Toolkit
+
+
+
+
The Visual C++ Toolkit installs the “Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 Command
+Prompt” into the Start Menu. This command-shell window is configured to
+enable compilation and linking of C++ programs using the toolkit-provided
+tools.
+
+
+
+
A batch file (vcvars32.bat) in the Toolkit installation directory sets
+the environment variables (PATH, INCLUDE, LIB) to point at Toolkit
+directories. Execute this batch file from any command prompt to configure
+for compilation using the Toolkit compiler.
+
+
+
+
There are four samples included with the Toolkit, located in the
+Samples subdirectory. These short samples showcase new or updated
+capabilities of the Visual C++ compiler. Each sample includes a short
+whitepaper explaining the sample, and one or more batch files that can be used
+to compile the sample code.
+
+
+
+
Next Steps
+
+
+
+
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the Visual C++ compiler and the
+samples included with the Toolkit, you’re ready to build! You can use the
+Toolkit to build a variety of C++-based programs, using core C++ libraries and
+the .NET Framework. If you like,
+you can augment the toolkit with additional free developer
+ tools and resources. For example, you can download any of
+the following:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
If you have any questions about the C++ programming, or the Toolkit
+itself, we highly recommend visiting a C++ newsgroup or community site.
+The free Toolkit does not include technical support, but many questions about
+Visual C++ are answered online. Start by checking the Visual C++ FAQ:
+
+
+
+
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/productinfo/faq
+
+
+
+
When you’re ready, we suggest you check out Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional, which includes lots of
+additional functionality for C++ developers, including an award-winning IDE and
+code debugger, additional libraries, and much more! You can try out Visual Studio for free,
+online. Visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/tryit/
+for more information.
+
+
+
+
Uninstalling the Visual C++ Toolkit
+
+
+
+
Use the Add/Remove Programs tool in the Windows Control Panel to
+uninstall the Visual C++ Toolkit.
+
+
+
+
The Toolkit installs the ‘Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1’ if it is not previously
+installed. The uninstaller does not remove this shared component, but it
+may be removed manually using the Add/Remove Programs tool.
+
+
+
+
+
+