=====Setting for Windows Development=====

This is not a step by step guide. Instead it is meant to provide links to all the sites and downloadable tools that will be required if you wish to use a Windows system for assisting in ""XTrackCAD"" development.

All required tools are freely available.

I started this page when I bought a new computer. So this description will follow the steps I took when setting up that system and will be extended as I make progress. I started from a bare Windows XP system with only the operating system and the virus protection installed.

====Required Microsoft Tools====

	1) Get [[http://www.microsoft.com/express/ Visual Studio Express Editions]] from Microsoft.
	1) Installation is straightforward. Select Visual Studio C""++"". You can install the optional components and documentation if you wish.
	1) After installation, start Visual Studio C""++"" and generate a small Win32 test application. Compile and run.
	1) As an additional tool the [[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=00535334-c8a6-452f-9aa0-d597d16580cc&DisplayLang=en HTML Help Workshop]] is needed. Get the htmlhelp.exe. Installation for this tool is a straightforward process.
	
====Getting the source and building====

	1) If you want to access the most recent source code or want to contribute code to the project, you'll need [[http://cvsgui.sourceforge.net/ WinCVS]]
	1) A good description for the installation of [[http://cvsgui.sourceforge.net/ WinCVS]] provided by the Sourceforge Team is [[http://sourceforge.net/docs/F05/en/#top WinCvs with PuTTY]]
	1) The build process is managed by [[http://www.cmake.org/ CMake]]. You'll need version 2.6.0 or higher of CMake.
	1) Run as described in CMakeBuild

====Preparing for installation====

	1) Installation packages are built with [[http://nsis.sf.net/ NSIS]]. This is not required but will be helpful if you want to distribute ""XTrackCAD"" to other PCs.