Cannot open include file with Visual Studio

Question

I have recently gone from Code::Blocks to Visual Studio, and in Code::Blocks one could just add a class and then include it straight away. However, whenever I do the same in Visual Studio with the following statement:

#include "includedFile.h"

or

#include "include/includedFile.h"

It doesn't work and instead I get the error:

cannot open include file: 'includedFile.h'; no such file or directory.

Is there some box or setting that I have to tick? Or do I have to add each header as a dependency manually?

Here is the code for the class in question:

Public.h:

    #pragma once
    class Public
    {
        public:
            static const int SCREEN_WIDTH=1000;
            static const int SCREEN_HEIGHT=1250;
            Public(void);
            ~Public(void);
    };

Public.cpp:

    #include "Public.h"


    Public::Public(void)
    {
    }


    Public::~Public(void)
    {
    }

How it is being included:

    #include "Public.h"

Answer 1

I had Same problem several times but didn't know why it seems that way but I copied the complete path and pasted it within the include <c:\xx\yy\zz\cd.h> angle brackets

And it compiled without the warning.

Answer 2

I tried the other answers here as well, but my problem had nothing to do with the include paths or files missing incorrect #includes. I had two configurations, each set to the exact same include directories. One configuration could resolve the includes, the other could not.

After selecting my project and going to Project -> Properties, I selected both configurations through the Configuration dropdown -> Multiple Configurations... option. Comparing the two I found that C/C++ -> Language -> Conformance Mode was different. The "incorrect" configuration had a value of Default for some reason, and switching it to Yes or No allowed the paths to be resolved.

TL;DR: If you have one configuration with the same include directories but the other isn't finding the files, I suggest to try comparing the configurations.

Answer 3

For me, it helped to link the projects current directory as such:

In the properties -> C++ -> General window, instead of linking the path to the file in "additional include directories". Put "." and uncheck "inheret from parent or project defaults".

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

If your problem is still there it's certainly because you are trying to compile a different version from your current settings.

For example if you set your Additional Include Directories in Debug x64, be sure that you are compiling with the same configuration.

Check this: Build > Configuration Manager... > There is problably something like this in your active solution configuration: Debug x86 (Win32) platform.

Answer 5

If you've tried the other answers and your include file still can't be found, here are some additional debugging steps and sanity-checks:

• Ensure that you are building to a platform that is supported by your code. (If not, consider removing this platform as a target)
• Verify that the filename/path is correct. Modify your source code to #include the whole absolute path of the header file instead, and see if the file can be found now. If not, copy-paste the path from your source code into a command line to validate that the file exists at that full path with no typos. Open the header file to ensure you have read access. (Change the source code back when done.)
• If you've already added the path to Additional Include Directories, try clicking the drop-down combo box for Additional Include Directories, and select <Edit...>. This will show you evaluated values of paths. (If it does not show the correct evaluated values, variables in your path might not be set. Click Macros>> to see variables.) Copy-paste the evaluated path into windows explorer to validate that the path exists.
• Create a new empty C++ "Windows Console Application" project. Set just the one Include Directory, and #include just the one file in your main.cpp, and see if that builds.

Answer 6

I had this same issue going from e.g gcc to visual studio for C programming. Make sure your include file is actually in the directory -- not just shown in the VS project tree. For me in other languages copying into a folder in the project tree would indeed move the file in. With Visual Studio 2010, pasting into "Header Files" was NOT putting the .h file there.

Please check your actual directory for the presence of the include file. Putting it into the "header files" folder in project/solution explorer was not enough.

Answer 7

Go to your Project properties (Project -> Properties -> Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General) and in the field Additional Include Directories add the path to your .h file.

And be sure that your Configuration and Platform are the active ones. Example: Configuration: Active(Debug) Platform: Active(Win32).

Answer 8

I found this post because I was having the same error in Microsoft Visual C++. (Though it seems it's cause was a little different, than the above posted question.)

I had placed the file, I was trying to include, in the same directory, but it still could not be found.

My include looked like this: #include <ftdi.h>

But When I changed it to this: #include "ftdi.h" then it found it.

Answer 9

You need to set the path for the preprocessor to search for these include files, if they are not in the project folder.

You can set the path in VC++ Directories, or in Additional Include Directories. Both are found in project settings.

Answer 10

By default, Visual Studio searches for headers in the folder where your project is ($ProjectDir) and in the default standard libraries directories. If you need to include something that is not placed in your project directory, you need to add the path to the folder to include:

Go to your Project properties (Project -> Properties -> Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General) and in the field Additional Include Directories add the path to your .h file.

You can, also, as suggested by Chris Olen, add the path to VC++ Directories field.