CGAL users discussion list

[Yang Liu <>]

Hi, Amir,
We have a project based on CGAL, the following detailed CGAL-install
instruction is good for you.

Yang Liu
-------------------

1) Install Boost library (it is required by CGAL)

    option 1: Using BoostPro installer (32 bit only)

     - download the latest Boost Installer, downloaded on
http://www.boostpro.com/products/free
     - run the installer. When prompted, select the version of Visual
Studio you use and all the 'variant' of the library you need. If
unsure about the variant, you could probably select all of them.
     - When you are asked to check the components to be installed,
verify that Boost Thread and Data_Time are (partially) selected.
(Minimal selections: Boost head files + Boost Thread)
     - Select the install folder.
     - press 'Install' and go get a coffee while the installer
downloads and installs chosen components.

   option 2: Install Boost from sources. (32 and 64 bit)
     - download boost src and bjam from www.boost.org, and extract
boost to a folder and put bjam.exe into your system path, for
instance, c:\windows.
     - compile boost-thread and boost-data-time libraries only.
     Run MSVC Compiler Command Prompt (choosing 32bit or  64bit
compiler) and execute the following command
     for 32 bits:
        bjam --toolset=msvc --build-type=complete --with-thread
--with-date_time stage
     for 64 bit:
        bjam --toolset=msvc address-model=64 --build-type=complete
--stagedir=stage64 --with-thread --with-date_time stage

     You can use specify --link=static to generate static libries only.
     The generated libraries are in stage or stage64 directory. copy
them into /lib.


2) Set BOOSTROOT environment variable

 You may have to manually set the environment variable BOOSTROOT to
the path where you installed Boost.
 - In  Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment Variables ,
check if the variable already exists. If not, create it and set its
value to the path to the Boost directory. The "boost", "lib"
directories should be in the directory you specify as the BOOSTROOT
value.


3) Install CGAL

 - download the latest CGAL windows installer on
http://www.cgal.org/download.html  (The only requisite is to check "I
accept the license terms" at the bottom of the page and click
"submit"), or on http://gforge.inria.fr/frs/?group_id=52 .
 - Run the installer, and like for boost, select the correct compiler
and variant (I bet you have to match CGAL variants with Boost
variants...)
 - Select the install folder.
 - when asked about the environmental variables, make sure both that
CGAL_DIR is set and $CGAL_DIR/auxiliary/gmp/lib is added to the PATH.
 - finish the installation.


4) Prepare CGAL compilation (Windows Console mode)

 - Run MSVC Compiler Command Prompt (choosing 32bit or 64bit compiler)
 - Run "cmake-gui ." on the CGAL directory(the topmost with a
CMakeLists.txt file) , WITH THE SAME DIRECTORY for the source and
binaries.
 - You may have to press "Configure" twice or more times until the
"OK" or "generate" button becomes available.

  This step will generate files specifically crafted for your system.


5) Compile CGAL

 - open the solution (CGAL.sln) in Visual Studio
 - set the type of configuration you want using the Configuration Manager
 - build the solution
 - repeat the last two steps for each configuration you plan on using
(at least Release and Debug are recommended)



On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Amir Vaxman 
<>
 wrote:
> Oh thanks, I didn't do bjam install (didn't see it in any documentation?)
> the boost documentation is very frustrating; I am trying to install it
> manually, since I want to work 64-bit, and BoostPro only installs 32-bit
> precompiled binaries. If anyone has complete instructions on how to setup
> CGAL, beginning from boost and on to work with 64-bit, I'd be very grateful.
>
> Amir.
>