Language - C

C++ is a general purpose, cross-platform programming language with a vast user base.

Quick Downloads

Just need the C/C++ drivers, libraries, and examples? Here they are:

C/C++ API Documentation:

• C/C++ API Manual Download or (HTML online version)
• General API (more help on functions common to all Phidgets)
• Device Specific APIs (more help on functions specific to your Phidget)

C/C++ Example Code:

• C/C++ Example Code for Visual Studio
• Generic C/C++ Example Code

Libraries and Drivers:

• 32 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)
• 64 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)
• Borland C++ Libraries (You also need one of the two Windows drivers above)
• General Linux Libraries ( Linux Library Setup Instructions)
• General Mac OSX Libraries ( Mac OSX Library Setup Instructions)

Getting started with C/C++

If you are new to writing code for Phidgets, we recommend starting by running, then modifying existing examples. This will allow you to:

• Make sure your libraries are properly linked
• Go from source code to a test application as quickly as possible
• Ensure your Phidget is hooked up properly

Instructions are divided up by operating system. Choose:

• Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7
• Linux (including PhidgetSBC)
• Mac OS X

Windows

• 32 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)
• 64 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)

C/C++ programs on Windows depend on three files, which the installers above put onto your system:

• Phidget21.dll contains the actual Phidgets library, which is used at run-time. If you used our installer, it's already correctly placed in C:\Windows\System32. It can be manually installed - check our Manual Installation instructions.
• Phidget21.lib is used by your compiler to link to the dll. Your compiler has to know where this file is. Our installer puts Phidget21.lib into C:\Program Files\Phidgets -Could be wrong-. Phidget21.lib is written to be compatible with most compilers - but your specific compiler may need a different format. Check our documentation for your specific compiler below for details.
• Phidget21.h lists all the Phidget API function calls available to your code. Your compiler also has to know where this file is. By default, our installer puts Phidget21.h into C:\Program Files\Phidgets so you can either point your compiler to that location, or copy and link to it in a directory for your project workspace. We offer some instruction below, by compiler.

Generally, to run the examples, you will download them and unpack them into a folder. If you browse around within the examples, you'll note that the examples are specific to each Phidget. So, you'll need to find the source code for your specific device within the example package.

When you are building a project from scratch, you will need to properly link the Phidget C/C++ libraries described above. Most compilers provide their own documentation on how to link external libraries. For some compilers, such as Borland and Dev C++, you will need to use different libraries. Please check your compiler section below to see if something specific is needed. Then, in your code, you usually need to include the Phidget library specifically:

  #include <phidget21.h>

Visual Studio

• C/C++ API Reference
• Microsoft Visual C/C++ Examples

Borland

• C/C++ API Reference
• Borland C++ Libraries (You also need one of the two Windows drivers above)

GCC on Windows

• C/C++ API Reference
• Generic C/C++ Examples

Dev C++

• C/C++ API Reference
• Generic C/C++ Examples

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General Windows Library Setup

In addition to actually creating code to drive your Phidget,

Visual Studio C++ Library Setup

To link libraries in Visual C++ 2005:

• Generate a new C/C++ console project with a descriptive name such as PhidgetTest.
• Open the project properties window.
• Navigate to Configuration Properties | C/C++
• Add "C:\Program Files\Phidgets" to the additional directories field.
• Navigate to Configuration Properties | Linker | Input.
• Edit the additional dependencies and add "C:\Program Files\Phidgets\phidget21.lib".

The project now has access to the Phidget21 function calls and you are ready to begin coding.

Borland C/C++ Library Setup

To link libraries in Borland C/C++:

Make sure to download the additional Borland-specific libraries in addition to the drivers you already have through the Getting Started page for your device:

• Borland C++ Libraries

To compile and link your program: bcc32 -I"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -L"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" phidget21bcc.lib example.c

MinGW Library Setup

To compile and link your program: gcc example.c -I"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -L"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -lphidget21

Cygwin Library Setup

To compile and link your program: gcc example.c -I"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets" -L"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets" -lphidget21

Dev C++ Library Setup

In order to control Phidgets with Dev-C++, the library file will need to be in a format that Dev-C++ accepts, as described in the following steps. The following steps works with Dev-C++ 4.9.9.2. Download the reimp tool(Please download it here), and type the following command to create libphidget21.a.

reimp.exe "C:\Program Files\Phidgets\phidget21.lib"

Place libphidget21.a in <Dev-Cpp Install Directory>/lib

Open up your project in Dev-C++, and traverse to Project Options->Parameters->Linker, and enter the following to link to the library:

-lphidget21

Next, the path to phidget21.h will need to be specified. Traverse to Project Options->Directories->Include Directories, and add the path to the Phidget installation directory:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets

Mac OSX

One good way to start developing your application is to run and modify existing examples. You can find the C/C++ API and example code here:

• C/C++ API Reference
• Generic C/C++ Examples

To run the example code, you'll need to find the source code for your specific device. Then, compile the code under your platform and run it. This will allow you to:

• Make sure your libraries are properly linked
• Go from source code to a test application as quickly as possible
• Ensure your Phidget is hooked up properly

The examples assume that the compiled libraries have been set up properly. To set them up on Mac OSX, follow the Getting Started page for your specific device

To compile, link the Phidget libraries, and build an executable binary on MacOS, do (for example, depending on the Headers location):

  gcc example.c -o example -framework Phidget21 -I/Library/Frameworks/Phidget21.framework/Headers

After using gcc, you will have an executable named example that you can run.

Linux

One good way to start developing your application is to run and modify existing examples. You can find the C/C++ API and example code here:

• C/C++ API Reference
• Generic C/C++ Examples

To run the example code, you'll need to find the source code for your specific device. Then, compile the code under your platform and run it. This will allow you to:

• Make sure your libraries are properly linked
• Go from source code to a test application as quickly as possible
• Ensure your Phidget is hooked up properly

The examples assume that the compiled libraries have been set up properly.

• To set them up on Linux, compile and install them as explained on the main Linux page

To compile, link the Phidget libraries, and build a binary executable on Linux, do the following in a terminal in the directory with example.c:

  gcc example.c -o example -lphidget21

After using gcc, you will have an executable named example that you can run. On Linux, if you have not set up your udev rules for USB access you will need to run the program as root.

Follow The Examples

By following the instructions for your operating system and compiler above, you probably now have a working example and want to understand them better so you can change them.

When changing the examples to do what you want, or writing your own code, you will probably find these API resources useful because they outline the C/C++ functions that you can use:

Write Your Own Code (Mac OSX/Linux)

General Mac OS/Linux Library Setup

Before you can use the Phidget, you must include a reference to the library header.

  #include <phidget21.h>

Create and Build Your Project

With the libraries linked properly in your compiler, you can consult the following resources for help with writing code:

• C/C++ API Manual Download or (HTML online version)
• General API (more help on functions common to all Phidgets)
• Device Specific APIs (more help on functions specific to your Phidget)

• The page with general programming concepts for Phidgets

Compiling and linking against the Phidgets Library can be done in the following ways:

To build on Linux:

  gcc example.c -o example -lphidget21

To build on MacOS (for example, depending on the Headers location):

  gcc example.c -o example -framework Phidget21 -I/Library/Frameworks/Phidget21.framework/Headers

Development Environments and Compilers

Describe each major compiler and notable differences or important information. (eg. framework versions) If there are known issues/workarounds mention them and link to the corresponding issue at the bottom of the page.

Dev C++
In order to control Phidgets with Dev-C++, the library file will need to be in a format that Dev-C++ accepts, as described in the following steps. The following steps works with Dev-C++ 4.9.9.2. Download the reimp tool(Please download it here), and type the following command to create libphidget21.a.

reimp.exe "C:\Program Files\Phidgets\phidget21.lib"

Place libphidget21.a in <Dev-Cpp Install Directory>/lib

Open up your project in Dev-C++, and traverse to Project Options->Parameters->Linker, and enter the following to link to the library:

-lphidget21

Next, the path to phidget21.h will need to be specified. Traverse to Project Options->Directories->Include Directories, and add the path to the Phidget installation directory:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets

Your program will now have access to Phidgets

Manual Install

Windows
Files needed: phidget21.h, phidget21.lib, phidget21.dll These files should be linked to Library Page - file section
Place phidget21.dll into C:\WINDOWS\system32. phidget21.h and phidget21.lib can be placed anywhere as long as the path to them are specified with your compiler

Common Problems and Solutions/Workarounds

Here you can put various frequent problems and our recommended solutions.