For more help with VS see docs/Readme_Windows_MSVC.md.

# Compiling OpenTTD using Microsoft Visual C++

Last updated: 2018-12-27

## Supported MSVC compilers

OpenTTD includes projects for Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 or more recent.

You can download the free Visual Studio Community Edition from Microsoft at

https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/community/.

## Required files

### Microsoft platform files

OpenTTD needs the Platform SDK, if it isn't installed already. This can be

done during installing Visual Studio, by selecting

`Visual C++ MFC for x86 and x64` (and possibly

`Visual C++ ATL for x86 and x64` depending on your version). If not, you

can get it at this location:

- [MS Windows Platform SDK](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A55B6B43-E24F-4EA3-A93E-40C0EC4F68E5&displaylang=en)

Install the SDK by following the instructions as given.

### OpenTTD dependencies

Dependencies for OpenTTD on Windows are handled via

[vcpkg](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/). First you need to install vcpkg

by following the `Quick Start` intructions of their

[README](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/README.md).

After this, you can install the dependencies OpenTTD needs. We advise to use

the `static` versions, and OpenTTD currently needs the following dependencies:

- freetype

- liblzma

- libpng

- lzo

- zlib

To install both the x64 (64bit) and x86 (32bit) variants, you can use:

```ps

.\vcpkg install freetype:x64-windows-static liblzma:x64-windows-static libpng:x64-windows-static lzo:x64-windows-static zlib:x64-windows-static

.\vcpkg install freetype:x86-windows-static liblzma:x86-windows-static libpng:x86-windows-static lzo:x86-windows-static zlib:x86-windows-static

```

## TTD Graphics files

See section 4.1 of README.md for the required 3rdparty files and how to install them.

## Compiling

Open the appropriate `sln` (Solution) file for your version of Visual Studio:

- VS 2015: projects/openttd_vs140.sln

- VS 2017: projects/openttd_vs141.sln

Set the build mode to `Release` in

`Build > Configuration manager > Active solution configuration`.

You can now compile.

If everything works well the binary should be in `objs\Win[32|64]\Release\openttd.exe`

and in `bin\openttd.exe`

## Problems

If compilation fails, double-check that you are using the latest github

source. If it still doesn't work, check in on IRC (irc://irc.oftc.net/openttd),

to ask for help.