error C3861: 'exit': identifier not found

Question

_{Monday, March 27, 2006 1:07 PM}

Hi,

I'm trying to build an old code (main.cpp) where I'm using SDL.  This is my first time using Visual Studio 2005.

I have included the following:

#include <SDL/SDL.h>

#include <stdio.h>

#include <stdlib.h>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])

{

if ( SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_AUDIO|SDL_INIT_VIDEO) < 0 )  //SDL_Init will return -1 if it could not initialize

{

printf("Unable to init SDL: %s\n", SDL_GetError());

exit(1);

}

atexit(SDL_Quit);

}

I get the error :   error C3861: 'exit': identifier not found.

What am I doing wrong?

All replies (11)

_{Monday, March 27, 2006 4:05 PM ✅Answered}

That is very strange.

The following compiles perfectly with VC++ 2005 :

#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{
exit(0);
}

Could you try compiling the above code snippet?

_{Monday, March 27, 2006 6:07 PM ✅Answered}

Another technique is to generate a preprocessor output file for the cpp file being compiled.  Under C/C++ settings, set the Generate Preprocessed File (/P) to Yes.  Then look for the definition of exit().  If it is isn't there, then compare with stdlib.h to see how it might have been #ifdef'd out.

Brian

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:23 PM ✅Answered}

I tried to understand the main.i file, but didn't ...

then I looked through the stdlib.h file, and found the the following line was commended out:

_CRTIMP __declspec(noreturn) void __cdecl exit(__in int _Code);

I took out the comment and recompiled it ... and now it works.

Thank you both for your help

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 10:29 AM}

Hi Nishant.

I tried compiling the above snipplet, but got the same error.

When I create the new project I make it as a Windows 32 Console Application.

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 1:54 PM}

Brian,

I get a LINK error, when I try this ...

cannot open file '.\Debug\main.obj'

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 3:01 PM}

Put the code into a cpp file (say a.cpp)

#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{
exit(0);
}

And compile from the command line. Use cl a.cpp

Does that work?

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 3:20 PM}

Sorry, I forgot to mention.  The purpose here is not to build, but rather to diagnose. /P will generate main.i, which will be a long file.  This is where the actual results of the inclusion of stdlib.h is revealed and may lend clues as to why exit is not being declared.

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:01 PM}

No,

I'm not able to compile from the command line ... 'cl' is not recognized.

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:07 PM}

Use the Visual Studio 2005 Command Prompt.

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 7:56 PM}

No,

get the same error:

a.ccp(5) : error c3861: 'exit': identifier not found.

_{Tuesday, March 28, 2006 7:58 PM}

Note: i followed up with your question about how to use /P earlier in this thread. Perhaps this is another avenue worth trying.