Depencies of Mogre
What dependencies are needed to be installed?
1.
At least the latest updates of DirectX 9. Although the version number didn't change for a long time, Microsoft published updates.
So the Mogre user needs at least that DirectX 9.0c status, which was used to compile Mogre.
Easy solution for end users: Just download and run the
DirectX web installer.
2.
When VS compiles code, it also uses special DLL files. They are installed by VS automatically to a system directory.
When a computer starts a software (compiled by VS) and doesn't find the special DLL files on the system, you get strange exceptions and doesn't know the real reason.
Solution: Install the "Microsoft Visual C++ 20xx Redistributable". Often the installer file name is just "vcredist.exe", althouth there are different versions.
Which version has to be installed? Maybe one, maybe more.
First the version, which was used to compile Ogre/Mogre.
Second the version, which was used to compile your project (which includes the Mogre.dll file).
Third: When your project uses additional dll files (e.g. a physics engine), which were compiled by VS, then you need to install the related vcredist version.
Note: VS with and without service packs needs different vcredist versions. (e.g. if you have a VS 2010 SP1 project, which uses a DLL file compiled with VS 2010 (without SP1), then both vcredist setups are needed to run your application.)
If any software of your computer installed a vcredist version (e.g. for VS2008 SP1) before, then your own project can use it, too.
Several software installers contains the related vcredist setup and install it silently in the background.
So it can be, that your application can run on a random computer without additional call of vcredist setup.
Sounds complicated? Yes, it's a little bit tricky.
In best case all dll files of your project were compiled by the same VS version (or without VS).
You know it, when you compile everything on your own. The MogreBuilder should help.
It also helps to compile Mogre add-ons, because you find all needed depency source files in the MogreBuilder output directory.
Then you just need to ship one vcredist setup file with your application.
Here are the downloads:
Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio [b]2013[/b]
Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio [b]2012[/b] Update 4
Microsoft Visual C++ [b]2010 SP1[/b] Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ [b]2010[/b] Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ [b]2008 SP1[/b] Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ [b]2008[/b] Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ [b]2005 SP1[/b] Redistributable Package (x86)
Note: Don't install the x64 version (even when you have Win 64 bit), because Mogre is by default compiled against x86.
Only if you compile your project (and all depency DLLs) against 64 bit, you need the x64 installers instead.
A 3D guru (user mstoyke) wrote, that there is no real benefit, when you create a x64 Ogre/Mogre application.
The Microsoft Visual C++ 20xx Redistributable Package installs runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries required to run applications developed with Visual C++ on a computer that does not have Visual C++ 20xx installed.
3.
The graphic card driver should be updated.
Sometimes there can be trouble if the drivers are too old.
By the way: I read that Intel graphic cards cause trouble from time to time. Also some mobile GPUs.
Solution: Use a desktop PC with an AMD or nVidia card.
4.
The related .NET framework(s) should be installed.
If you install .NET 3.5, you can run applications, which were compiled against .NET 2.0, 3.0 or 3.5.
If you install .NET 4.0, you can run applications, which are compiled against .NET 4.0.
I suppose you also can install .NET 4.5 to run applications, which are compiled against .NET 4.0.
The related installer download pages you can search yourself (-;
5.
All needed Ogre and Mogre binaries should be available.
An easy way is to add them directly to your Mogre project.
I think there are no more depencies.
True, I've never used the professional version
I don't remember details, but the full versions of VS have realy useful advantages.
If you are a student: Maybe you can get VS for free, because Microsoft has agreements with many universities.
By my experience from companies I know: Even if they want to upgrade to a newer VS version, it needs some time.
In general it's often common to use "old" licences for a longer time, because it costs money.