How to build EXEs

An .EXE program typically has a single executable component. Unlike GUI application targets there is no application information file, and in most cases a resource file will not be needed.

Under WINS/WINSCW, the C++ source is compiled to object files in the build directory; these are then linked— together with standard libraries— into the release directory. You may run the program directly from the release directory.

Under ARM targets, the C++ source is compiled using GNU C++, and then linked using various tools from GNU and from Symbian into a .exe in the release directory. These tools ensure that all Symbian executables are of the minimum possible size. You may then transfer the program to the target machine, using Symbian Connect or similar software, and execute it.

mmp project specification

For an EXE target, only a minimum of essential information need be specified:

• Specify the TARGETTYPE line as:

  TARGETTYPE exe

• Specify the UID as zero in a UID line:

  UID 0

  EXEs do not strictly speaking need a UID value. However specifying zero suppresses a build tools warning.

Example

An example of the project file for a console program is given below.

TARGET HelloWorld.exe
TARGETTYPE exe
UID 0
SOURCEPATH .
SOURCE HelloWorld.cpp
USERINCLUDE .
USERINCLUDE ..\CommonFramework
SYSTEMINCLUDE \Epoc32\include
LIBRARY euser.lib