Solving error MSB8011: Failed to register output

Question

A strange error:

error MSB8011: Failed to register output. Please try enabling Per-user Redirection or register the component from a command prompt with elevated permissions. C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\Microsoft.CppCommon.targets 744

I got this error when trying to use OpenSceneGraph (OSG) in an ActiveX control. A Google search showed all kinds of solutions which didn't really solve the problem or locate the exact cause of the error, so I'd like to put the solution in one place: Here.

I found the solution to it, and will be answering my own question soon, so that people can find their solution if they encounter the same problem.

Answer 1

This error happens when Visual Studio (2010) can't find the dependent dll files that are required by the program for creating the OCX. The OCX is created in the Debug directory of the project (for Debug builds), and specifying the "Working directory" (in project settings) as the folder where the dependent DLL's are, won't help Visual Studio in locating the DLL's.

Now the catch is (this is what makes it a headache to solve the problem) that sometimes, without Visual Studio being able to create the OCX, you won't be able to run Dependency Walker on the OCX. So you'll never figure out that the missing DLL's are the problem.

If you know which DLL's need to be placed in the Debug folder, just place them there, and the error will disappear. If you don't know, and if your OCX didn't get created, then go to project settings > Linker > General > Register Output and set the value to "No". This will create your OCX for you, but won't go through the process of registering it, which is when it needs the dependent DLL's.

Once you double-click the OCX and Dependency Walker shows you the missing DLL's with yellow circle icons, just place those DLL's in the same folder as the OCX, and your program will work fine. It's that simple.