error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup'

[JonB]

@wwwsharq
I don't use Qt for Windows nor do I use cmake, so you will need someone else for that.

However, the most pertinent question, especially if you are a newcomer to Qt, is why are you wanting using the Windows SDK and winsock? Qt is platform-independent, so in general you don't need or want to use Windows-specific calls in your code, certainly when Qt provides QTcpSocket etc.?

[Ronel_qtmaster]

@wwwsharq you might consider to use a plain c++ or c project with Qt instead of trying projects with Qt Widgets

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@Ronel_qtmaster please stop posting useless stuff. What has your answer to do with the problem?

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@wwwsharq see cmake command target_link_libraries() to link to ws2_32

[wwwsharq]

@Christian-Ehrlicher I have tried but it only has given me more errors, i

it gives me this error now:

CMake Error: The following variables are used in this project, but they are set to NOTFOUND.
Please set them or make sure they are set and tested correctly in the CMake files:
ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH

do you know what lines i'd have to add? honestly i've messed with the cmake file alot an i've had no luck

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)

project(eccoci VERSION 0.1 LANGUAGES CXX)

set(CMAKE_AUTOUIC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTORCC ON)

set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)


find_package(QT NAMES Qt6 Qt5 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)
find_package(Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR} REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)

set(PROJECT_SOURCES
        main.cpp
// stuff
)

if(${QT_VERSION_MAJOR} GREATER_EQUAL 6)
    qt_add_executable(eccoci
        MANUAL_FINALIZATION
        ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
        main.cpp
       /* and bunch of stuff*/

)
# Define target properties for Android with Qt 6 as:
#    set_property(TARGET eccoci APPEND PROPERTY QT_ANDROID_PACKAGE_SOURCE_DIR
#                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/android)
# For more information, see https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qt-add-executable.html#target-creation
else()
    if(ANDROID)
        add_library(eccoci SHARED
            ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
        )
# Define properties for Android with Qt 5 after find_package() calls as:
#    set(ANDROID_PACKAGE_SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/android")
    else()
        add_executable(eccoci
            ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
        )
    endif()
endif()

target_link_libraries(eccoci PRIVATE Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR}::Widgets)
# Qt for iOS sets MACOSX_BUNDLE_GUI_IDENTIFIER automatically since Qt 6.1.
# If you are developing for iOS or macOS you should consider setting an
# explicit, fixed bundle identifier manually though.
find_library(ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH ws2_32)
add_executable(Executive ${exec_src})
target_link_libraries(Executive ${ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH})
if(${QT_VERSION} VERSION_LESS 6.1.0)
  set(BUNDLE_ID_OPTION MACOSX_BUNDLE_GUI_IDENTIFIER com.example.eccoci)
endif()
set_target_properties(eccoci PROPERTIES
    ${BUNDLE_ID_OPTION}
    MACOSX_BUNDLE_BUNDLE_VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION}
    MACOSX_BUNDLE_SHORT_VERSION_STRING ${PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR}.${PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR}
    MACOSX_BUNDLE TRUE
    WIN32_EXECUTABLE TRUE
)

include(GNUInstallDirs)
install(TARGETS eccoci
    BUNDLE DESTINATION .
    LIBRARY DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
    RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}
)

if(QT_VERSION_MAJOR EQUAL 6)
    qt_finalize_executable(eccoci)
endif()

[wwwsharq]

@wwwsharq let me be fully clear the full compilation errror is this

15:58:36: Running steps for project eccoci...
15:58:36: Starting: "C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.exe" --build C:/Users/User/Documents/build-eccoci-Desktop_Qt_6_6_2_MinGW_64_bit-Debug --target all
[0/1 ?/sec] Re-running CMake...
-- Could NOT find WrapVulkanHeaders (missing: Vulkan_INCLUDE_DIR) 
-- Configuring done (0.4s)
CMake Error: The following variables are used in this project, but they are set to NOTFOUND.
Please set them or make sure they are set and tested correctly in the CMake files:
ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH
    linked by target "Executive" in directory C:/Users/User/Documents/eccoci

-- Generating done (0.1s)
CMake Generate step failed.  Build files cannot be regenerated correctly.
FAILED: build.ninja 
"C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.exe" --regenerate-during-build -SC:\Users\User\Documents\eccoci -BC:\Users\User\Documents\build-eccoci-Desktop_Qt_6_6_2_MinGW_64_bit-Debug
ninja: error: rebuilding 'build.ninja': subcommand failed
15:58:37: The process "C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.exe" exited with code 1.
Error while building/deploying project eccoci (kit: Desktop Qt 6.6.2 MinGW 64-bit)
When executing step "Build"
15:58:37: Elapsed time: 00:01.

[kshegunov]

This is a cmake configuration error. Either you don't have WindowsSDK installed or it doesn't provide a cmake module for what you requested, or you have not pointed to cmake to find said module.

[Christian Ehrlicher]

There is no need to search for this lib. Simply add it to target_link_libraries call

[wwwsharq]

This post is deleted!

[wwwsharq]

@Christian-Ehrlicher hello do you have a tutorial or site you would reccomend to learn what you just said that isn't the cmake website? i have not understood evrything there and saying add target_link_libraries call doesn't tell me much i have added that line plenty of times without any luck, just more errors

target_link_libraries(eccoci PRIVATE ws2_32)

and the like i've tried already

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@wwwsharq said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

just more errors

What errors?

[wwwsharq]

@Christian-Ehrlicher
current cmake

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)

project(eccoci VERSION 0.1 LANGUAGES CXX)

set(CMAKE_AUTOUIC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTORCC ON)

set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)


find_package(QT NAMES Qt6 Qt5 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)
find_package(Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR} REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)

set(PROJECT_SOURCES
       main.cpp
       mainwindow.cpp
       mainwindow.h
       mainwindow.ui
       acqparamdialog.cpp
       advancedparamdialog.cpp
       device.cpp
       display.cpp
       settingsdialog.cpp
       utilities.cpp
)

if(${QT_VERSION_MAJOR} GREATER_EQUAL 6)
   qt_add_executable(eccoci
       MANUAL_FINALIZATION
       ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
       main.cpp
       definitions.h
       stn_def.h
       stn_calibration.h
       app_settings.h
       device.h
       stn_device.h
       display.h display.cpp
       display.ui
       settingsdialog.h settingsdialog.cpp
       settingsdialog.ui
       utilities.h utilities.cpp
       auto_fclose.h
       stn_print.h
       custom_events.h
       acqparamdialog.h acqparamdialog.cpp
       acqparamdialog.ui
       advancedparamdialog.h advancedparamdialog.cpp
       advancedparamdialog.ui
       ui_mainwindow.h
       device.cpp
       ui_display.h
       ui_advancedparamdialog.h
       ui_acqparamdialog.h


   )
# Define target properties for Android with Qt 6 as:
#    set_property(TARGET eccoci APPEND PROPERTY QT_ANDROID_PACKAGE_SOURCE_DIR
#                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/android)
# For more information, see https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qt-add-executable.html#target-creation
else()
   if(ANDROID)
       add_library(eccoci SHARED
           ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
       )
# Define properties for Android with Qt 5 after find_package() calls as:
#    set(ANDROID_PACKAGE_SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/android")
   else()
       add_executable(eccoci
           ${PROJECT_SOURCES}
       )
   endif()
endif()

target_link_libraries(eccoci PRIVATE Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR}::Widgets)

target_link_libraries(eccoci PUBLIC ws2_32)

# Qt for iOS sets MACOSX_BUNDLE_GUI_IDENTIFIER automatically since Qt 6.1.
# If you are developing for iOS or macOS you should consider setting an
# explicit, fixed bundle identifier manually though.
# find_library(ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH ws2_32)
add_library(ws2_32)
add_executable(Executive ${exec_src})
#target_link_libraries(Executive ${ws2_32_LIBRARY_PATH})
if(${QT_VERSION} VERSION_LESS 6.1.0)
 set(BUNDLE_ID_OPTION MACOSX_BUNDLE_GUI_IDENTIFIER com.example.eccoci)
endif()
set_target_properties(eccoci PROPERTIES
   ${BUNDLE_ID_OPTION}
   MACOSX_BUNDLE_BUNDLE_VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION}
   MACOSX_BUNDLE_SHORT_VERSION_STRING ${PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR}.${PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR}
   MACOSX_BUNDLE TRUE
   WIN32_EXECUTABLE TRUE
)

include(GNUInstallDirs)
install(TARGETS eccoci
   BUNDLE DESTINATION .
   LIBRARY DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
   RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}
)

if(QT_VERSION_MAJOR EQUAL 6)
   qt_finalize_executable(eccoci)
endif()

error i get:

-- Could NOT find WrapVulkanHeaders (missing: Vulkan_INCLUDE_DIR) 
-- Configuring done (0.4s)
-- Generating done (0.0s)
-- Build files have been written to: C:/Users/User/Documents/build-eccoci-Desktop_Qt_6_6_2_MinGW_64_bit-Debug
[1/12 8.6/sec] Automatic MOC and UIC for target Executive
[2/11 14.8/sec] Automatic MOC and UIC for target ws2_32
[3/9 13.6/sec] Linking CXX executable Executive.exe
FAILED: Executive.exe 
C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /C "cd . && C:\Qt\Tools\mingw1120_64\bin\g++.exe -DQT_QML_DEBUG -g  CMakeFiles/Executive.dir/Executive_autogen/mocs_compilation.cpp.obj -o Executive.exe -Wl,--out-implib,libExecutive.dll.a -Wl,--major-image-version,0,--minor-image-version,0  -lkernel32 -luser32 -lgdi32 -lwinspool -lshell32 -lole32 -loleaut32 -luuid -lcomdlg32 -ladvapi32 && cd ."
C:/Qt/Tools/mingw1120_64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/11.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:/Qt/Tools/mingw1120_64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/11.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/../lib/libmingw32.a(lib64_libmingw32_a-crt0_c.o):crt0_c.c:(.text.startup+0x2e): undefined reference to `WinMain'
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status
[4/9 13.0/sec] Automatic MOC and UIC for target eccoci
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
15:16:15: The process "C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.exe" exited with code 1.
Error while building/deploying project eccoci (kit: Desktop Qt 6.6.2 MinGW 64-bit)
When executing step "Build"
15:16:15: Elapsed time: 00:01.

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@wwwsharq said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

target_link_libraries(eccoci PRIVATE Qt${QT_VERSION_MAJOR}::Widgets)

add_executable(Executive ${exec_src})

You create a library but don't link it to your executable.
Also you link the QtWidgets library private to your library which is wrong (as you expose QtWidgets stuff in your library to it's users). So either properly link public or link your executable also to QtWidgets.

[SamiV123]

If you're using visual studio (and cl) by far the easiest way is to

# pragma comment(lib, "ws2_32.lib")

the less you need to mess with CMake or (build files in general) the better.

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@SamiV123 said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

the less you need to mess with CMake or (build files in general) the better.

Using some non-standard stuff instead standarized scripting is for sure much better.
If you would have read the post from above you would see that the OP is using MinGW which does not support this crap.

[SamiV123]

@Christian-Ehrlicher said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

@SamiV123 said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

the less you need to mess with CMake or (build files in general) the better.

Using some non-standard stuff instead standarized scripting is for sure much better.
If you would have read the post from above you would see that the OP is using MinGW which does not support this crap.

Nothing standard about "scripting" (which I believe you use to refer to CMake) . But yeah, some of us prefer to have things the easy way and some don't...

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@SamiV123 said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

But yeah, some of us prefer to have things the easy way and some don't...

Your idea will simply not work for the OP...

[Ketan__Patel__0011]

@wwwsharq for this error there are so many resone and i personally faced many problems
You should try to rearrange your header files.

Try the following way which is i used.

#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
#include <windows.h>
#include <WinSock2.h>
#include <WS2tcpip.h>
#include <NetCon.h>

#pragma comment (lib, "Ws2_32.lib")
#pragma comment (lib, "Mswsock.lib")
#pragma comment (lib, "AdvApi32.lib")

[JonB]

@Ketan__Patel__0011
Have you verified these #pragma comment (lib, ... statements work from MinGW? They are not just an MSVC thing?

Maybe your re-ordering of the headers will help, I don't know, but I don't see how this will solve MinGW not knowing to link with Ws2_32, which seems to be the error message.

Same sort of thing as @SamiV123 above. Don't forget the OP actually already has

 #pragma comment(lib, "Ws2_32.lib")

in his original code question, and it's still not linking....

[Christian Ehrlicher]

@JonB said in error: undefined reference to `__imp_WSAStartup':

They are not just an MSVC thing

The pragma is proprietary MSVC crap