With a web browser, go to the OpenGL gateway (see openGL page for ECE660) to see a LOT of information on OpenGL..

One of the things you’ll see is: "Using OpenGL in Visual C++ Version 4.x": click on it to go here.

1). You can download Microsoft’s free Opengl95.exe file by following links there, or just ftp to ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/OPENGL95.EXE. This is a self-extracting file that includes: glu32.dll, opengl32.dll, Gl.h, Glu.h, Glu32.lib, openGL32.lib, Glaux.h (not needed if you use the GLUT), and Glaux.lib (not needed if you use the GLUT).

2).You should also get the GL utility Toolkit (GLUT). Click here.

Once extracted, you'll need the three files: glut.h, glut32.lib, and glut32.dll.

(Be sure you get a "consistent" set of .lib's and .dll's. The safest thing - I think (9/27/98) -- is to use the lib's and dll's that end in "32", like opengl32.*, glut32.*, and glu32.*. I wish it were easier to predict exactly which ones to get... but they must work together... or you get the dreaded 'black screen'.)

To install OpenGL on a windows 95/98 machine:

1). Put into C:\Windows\System the following three dll's: Opengl32.dll, Glu32.dll, glut32.dll

2). Put into a handy directory, say C:\OpenGL\openGLLibs, the three .lib files: Glu32.lib, glut32.lib, Opengl32.lib

3). Put into the include subdirectory of your Visual C++: GL.h, Glu.h, and glut.h (In my system I put these in DevStudio\Vc\include\gl).

Now to build a new application using Visual C++ 5.0 or 6.0 ( Visual C++ 4.xx should be very similar)

4). Start up Visual C++;

5). Choose the File/new menu item and choose "Console Application" (*much* easier to work with than a full MFC application, although that gives you more control; (if you open your own windows, and manage events yourself, you don't need glut):

6). Give the project a name and click OK

7). Choose File/New, and choose "C/C++ Source file"; give it a name, e.g. Canvas.cpp, click OK;

8). The blank screen comes up: type in the source code;

9). Choose in Visual C++ the menu item: Project/add to project/files;

10). Navigate to your handy directory where the three /lib files are; highlight all three; and click OK to add them;

11). Build the project: (use menu, or the shortcut: function key F7)

12). Run it (use menu, or the shortcut: Ctrl F5)

Note: If the program compiles and links without error, and upon start up opens an all black window, your Windows 95/98 display may be set wrong. In Windows 95/98 go to the control panel, click on display, click on settings, and be sure that you ask for true color (eg 24 bit color). To use the 256 color setting you have to change things within your program, e.g. glutInitDisplayMode(GLUT_INDEX | ...) instead of GLUT_RGBA | ....