Integration as External Tools

1. Start Visual C++ 2008 Expression Edition.
2. Select Tools > External Tools.

   The External Tools dialog box appears.

   Figure 1. External Tools Dialog Box
   
   
3. Add a new tool by clicking Add.
4. In the Title text box, type in the name of the tool to display in the menu, for example, RS08 Compiler.
5. In the Command text box, either type the path of the piper tool or browse to Piper.exe using the " ... " button. The location of Piper.exe is CWInstallDir\MCU\prog\piper.exe, where CWInstallDir is the directory in which the CodeWarrior software is installed.

   Piper.exe redirects I/O so that the RS08 build tools can be operated from within the Visual Studio UI.

6. In the Arguments text box, type the name of the tool to be launched. You can also specify any command line options, for example, -Cc, along with the $(ItemPath)Visual variable.

   You can use the pop-up menu to the right of the text box to enter other Visual variables. The text box should look like this: CWInstallDir\MCU\prog\crs08.exe -Cc $(ItemPath).

7. In the Initial Directory text box, use the pop-up menu to choose $(ItemDir).
8. Check the Use Output Window checkbox.
9. Confirm that the Prompt for arguments checkbox is clear.
10. Click Apply to save your changes, then close the External Tools dialog box.

The new tool appears in the Tools menu.

Similarly, you can display other build tools in the Tools menu. Use Build Tools (Application Programs)Build Tools (Application Programs) to obtain the file names of the other build tools and specify the file names in the Arguments text box.

This arrangement allows the active (selected) file to be compiled or linked in the Visual Editor. Tool messages are reported in the Visual Output window. You can double-click on the error message in this window and the offending source code statement is displayed in the editor.