How to build opencv correctly in windows to get "opencv_createsamples.exe"

Question

I want to learn and use haarcascade classifier using OpenCV for detection of object of my choice. I searched the internet and found that createsamples utility helps in creating dataset for positive and negative images. I know how to install OpenCV in python (pip install opencv-python works perfectly) but since I need to use that utility I need to build the OpenCV for my windows system.

---

My attempts to install OpenCV in windows

Attempt 1 : using MinGW and cmake

• cloned latest OpenCV using git at "C:\OpenCV" from https://github.com/opencv/opencv

• Installed cmake

• created build using cmake at "C:\OpenCV\build" using MinGW(64 bit) build system with default options
• ran mingw32-make
• ran mingw32-make install

It created an install directory in "C:\OpenCV\build\install"

but to my surprise opencv_createsamples.exe was not present there

opencv_visualisation.exe, opencv_annotation.exe, opencv_version.exe etc. are present

screenshot of install files generated

screenshot of build options selected in cmake by default

It is clear BUILD_opencv_apps is true by default and other apps were created except this one

still in source folder : createsamples.cpp is present in "C:\OpenCV\apps\" along with opencv_visualisation.cpp and others

Attempt 2: visual studio 14_15 build from official site

• Downloaded OpenCV latest 4.0.1 from https://github.com/opencv/opencv/releases/download/4.0.1/opencv-4.0.1-vc14_vc15.exe from https://github.com/opencv/opencv/releases webpage

• extracted the opencv build at "C:\OpenCV401\"

still to my surprise at "C:\OpenCV401\build\x64\vc14\bin" no opencv_createsamples.exe likewise other files are present

screenshot of files present in build

Attempt 3

• This time I downloaded visual studio 10 build from this github page : https://github.com/abreheret/opencv3.2.0_build
• here at <OpenCV_DIR>/x64/vc10/bin/ all the amazing files are present

screenshot of files present in this build

---

So, my question is :

• Why that utility was not built from the source using MinGW and cmake in my first attempt
• Why they have not included in the official build
• How to build using MinGW and cmake to get that utility correctly (maybe some build configuration needed?)

Answer 1

Createsamples was disabled in latest OpenCV (4.0 and greater): here.