How to solve error LNK2019

Question

I am sending a simple email in C++. I downloaded a sample C++ program from the below link. http://cboard.cprogramming.com/cplusplus-programming/125655-sending-simple-email-cplusplus.html The sample program seems to hit the following error when it is compiling. Please help me with solution.

Error   8   error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _send_mail referenced in function _wmain  

Error   9   error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__recv@16 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z)    

Error   10  error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__connect@12 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z) 

Error   11  error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__htons@4 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z)    

Error   12  error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__socket@12 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z)  

Error   13  error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__getprotobyname@4 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z)   

Error   14  error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp__gethostbyname@4 referenced in function "int __cdecl connect_to_server(char const *)" (?connect_to_server@@YAHPBD@Z)    

Answer 1

I encountered the same error ("LNK2019: unresolved external symbol ...."). My headers and calls were defined correctly, and it only failed to link in Debug mode (no complaints in Release mode). It turned out that my issue was caused by an incorrect .vcxproj file.

When I added new dependencies to my project by editing the vxcproj file, I made a mistake: I thought that the two sections were identical except for the file extension, so I copy-pasted two lines from the first <ItemGroup> to the last <ItemGroup> (see below).

It went unnoticed for a while, because I used a batch script to compile the code in Release mode. When I switched to Debug mode, the project failed at the linking stage. Ultimately, I discovered my error, and resolved the problem with the following patch:

-    <ClCompile Include="crypto/crypto.h" />
-    <ClCompile Include="crypto/rsa_public_key.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="crypto/crypto.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="crypto/rsa_public_key.h" />

Buggy version of the .vcxproj file:

  <ItemGroup>
    ...
    <ClCompile Include="main.cpp" />
    <ClCompile Include="crypto/crypto.cpp" />
    <ClCompile Include="crypto/rsa_public_key.cpp" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <None Include="main.def" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    ...
    <ClInclude Include="main.h" />
    <ClCompile Include="crypto/crypto.h" />
    <ClCompile Include="crypto/rsa_public_key.h" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
  </ImportGroup>
</Project>

Bottom line: When you get LNK2019 and none of the explanations on the internet help, check your project settings. If you use version control, compare the current project file with a known-good older version.