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Thread: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

  1. 16th March 2025, 14:12 #1
    ikarona
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    Exclamation Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Hi!

    Currently I'm trying to build sources of IF with dynamically linked QT.
    OS: win 10
    QT - branches ifw-5.15.2, 5.15.6-lts-lgpl,... (tried different)
    IF - branch 4.3
    compiler: msvc, tried compilers from different Visual Studios: 2015, 2017, 2019

    That's how I build dynamic QT
    Qt Code: 
    1. call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x64 10.0.17763.0
    2. SET _ROOT=D:\tfgit\qt\qt_test3\qt5
    3. SET PATH=%_ROOT%\qtbase\bin;%_ROOT%\gnuwin32\bin;%PATH%
    4. SET PATH=%_ROOT%\qtrepotools\bin;%PATH%
    5. SET _ROOT=
    6.  
    7. call ..\configure -prefix %CD%\qtbase -opensource -confirm-license -platform win32-msvc2017 -release ^
    8.  -nomake examples -nomake tests -skip qtwebengine -no-openssl -opengl desktop && -developer-build ^ 
    9. call nmake module-qtbase module-qtdeclarative module-qttools module-qttranslations module-qtwinextras && ^
    10. call nmake install
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    This build finishes successfully all the times.

    This is how I'm trying to build IF:
    Qt Code: 
    1. call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x64 10.0.17763.0
    2. SET QTDIR=D:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase
    3. SET QTDIR_LIB=%QTDIR%\lib
    4. SET PATH=%QTDIR%\bin;%QTDIR%\..\..\gnuwin32\bin;%QTDIR_LIB%;D:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\installer-framework\lib;%PATH%
    5.  
    6. call qmake.exe "LIBS+= -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\lib -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\bin -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\installer-framework\lib" && ^
    7. call nmake && ^
    8. call nmake install
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    Example for VS 2015. Same tried for other studios.
    Qt Code: 
    1. call qmake.exe "LIBS+= -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\lib -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\bin -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\installer-framework\lib" && ^
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    This line also tried different options. This is last try, thats why it looks like this.

    Errors I'm getting are:
    Linker errors when building the installer:

    1. Unresolved RunOnceChecker symbols:
    - RunOnceChecker constructor and destructor
    - RunOnceChecker::isRunning()

    2. Missing QInstaller symbols:
    - QInstaller::init()
    - GenericFactory<QInstaller::PackageManagerPage>
    - QInstaller::PackageManagerPageFactory::instance()

    3. Missing QWinTaskbarButton and QWinTaskbarProgress symbols:
    - Constructors, destructors, and methods

    4. Missing Windows API functions:
    - SHGetFolderPathW
    - Security functions (AllocateAndInitializeSid, etc.)
    - COM functions (CoInitialize, CoUninitialize)
    - Shell functions (ShellExecuteExW)
    - Privilege functions (AdjustTokenPrivileges, etc.)
    - Other Windows APIs (SysAllocString, VariantClear, etc.)

    Total: 38 unresolved external symbols

    Ex:
    Qt Code: 
    1. error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "RunOnceChecker::RunOnceChecker(const QString&)" (__imp_...)
    2.     error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "RunOnceChecker::~RunOnceChecker(void)" (__imp_...)
    3.     error LNK2019/LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "bool RunOnceChecker::isRunning(QFlags<RunOnceChecker::ConditionFlag>)" (__imp_...)
    4.   main.obj:
    5.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "RunOnceChecker::~RunOnceChecker(void)" (__imp_...) referenced in SDKApp destructor
    6. [QWinTaskbarButton & QWinTaskbarProgress]
    7.   installer.lib (packagemanagergui.obj, performinstallationform.obj):
    8.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "QWinTaskbarButton::QWinTaskbarButton(QObject*)" (__imp_...)
    9.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "virtual QWinTaskbarButton::~QWinTaskbarButton(void)" (__imp_...)
    10.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarButton::setWindow(QWindow*)" (__imp_...)
    11.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "QWindow* QWinTaskbarButton::window(void)const" (__imp_...)
    12.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "QWinTaskbarProgress* QWinTaskbarButton::progress(void)const" (__imp_...)
    13.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarProgress::setValue(int)" (__imp_...)
    14.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarProgress::reset(void)" (__imp_...)
    15.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarProgress::setVisible(bool)" (__imp_...)
    16.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarProgress::resume(void)" (__imp_...)
    17.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "void QWinTaskbarProgress::stop(void)" (__imp_...)
    18.     error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol virtual ?????? QWinTaskbarButton (eventFilter, metaObject, qt_metacall, qt_metacast)
    19.  
    20. [Windows API ? COM]
    21.   installer.lib (packagemanagercoredata.obj):
    22.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "SHGetFolderPathW" (__imp_SHGetFolderPathW)
    23.   installer.lib (adminauthorization_win.obj):
    24.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbols "AllocateAndInitializeSid", "CheckTokenMembership", "FreeSid", "ShellExecuteExW", "CoInitialize", "CoUninitialize" (__imp_...)
    25.   installer.lib (utils.obj):
    26.     error LNK2019: unresolved external symbols "OpenProcessToken", "AdjustTokenPrivileges", "PrivilegeCheck", "LookupPrivilegeValueW" (__imp_...)
    27.   7z.lib (ArchiveExtractCallback.obj, PropVariant.obj, EnumDirItems.obj, 7zHandlerOut.obj):
    28.     error LNK2001/LNK2019: unresolved external symbols "OpenProcessToken", "AdjustTokenPrivileges", "SysAllocString", "SysAllocStringLen", "VariantClear", "VariantCopy", "SysFreeString", "GetFileSecurityW", "SetFileSecurityW" (__imp_...)
    29.  
    30.   ..\..\bin\installerbase.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 38 unresolved externals
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  2. 16th March 2025, 15:58 #2
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Are you running your scripts from within a Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt terminal window, or from an ordinary DOS Command Prompt window? The VS window sets up the environment for code building, whereas the ordinary prompt simply uses your existing environment. You can find the Developer Command Prompt on the Windows Start menu, under Visual Studio 20xx-> Visual Studio Tools.
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  3. 16th March 2025, 16:33 #3
    ikarona
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Hi! Thank you for you reply!
    I'm calling
    Qt Code: 
    1. call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x64 10.0.17763.0
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    On every build. It's script which setups env variables
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  4. 16th March 2025, 20:35 #4
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Are the environment variables set using the "call" command preserved after the call returns? I usually run build scripts from inside a developer command prompt. This guarantees that anything executed within that prompt inherits the build environment. Try commenting out your "call" statement and then executing your script inside the developer command window.
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  5. 16th March 2025, 20:52 #5
    ikarona
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    I made this a single script file:

    Qt Code: 
    1. call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x64 10.0.17763.0
    2. SET QTDIR=D:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase
    3. SET QTDIR_LIB=%QTDIR%\lib
    4. SET PATH=%QTDIR%\bin;%QTDIR%\..\..\gnuwin32\bin;%QTDIR_LIB%;D:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\installer-framework\lib;%PATH%
    5.  
    6. call qmake.exe "LIBS+= -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\lib -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\qt_test\qt5\qt5_build\qtbase\bin -LD:\tfgit\qt\qt_test2\installer-framework\lib" && ^
    7. call nmake && ^
    8. call nmake install
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    So after call vcvarsall.bat is executed all variables are definitely set during build-script execution. Otherwise nmake command wouldn't have been be found.

    I tried simply running it from developer command prompt(vs 2017): same result, no changes: 38 unresolved external symbols.
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  6. 17th March 2025, 13:27 #6
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Well, sorry. Are you sure that you are linking to the correct libraries? In Windows, you cannot mix Release and Debug or 32- and 64-bit libraries. A 64-bit Debug build must be linked with 64-bit Debug libraries, likewise for Release and 32-bit builds. Turn on a verbose build and have it write a log file so you can see all the details.

    Otherwise, I do not know what else to suggest.
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  7. 17th March 2025, 17:00 #7
    ikarona
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Well, both builds for qt and IF are always both x86 or both x64. Also I checked generated files and they are all release versions. Also during build I managed to lower amount of errors to only this:

    Qt Code: 
    1. main.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::RunOnceChecker(class QString const &)" (__imp_??0RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@AEBVQString@@@Z) referenced in function "public: __cdecl SDKApp<class QCoreApplication>::SDKApp<class QCoreApplication>(int &,char * *)" (??0?$SDKApp@VQCoreApplication@@@@QEAA@AEAHPEAPEAD@Z)
    2. installerbase.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::RunOnceChecker(class QString const &)" (__imp_??0RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@AEBVQString@@@Z)
    3. commandlineinterface.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::RunOnceChecker(class QString const &)" (__imp_??0RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@AEBVQString@@@Z)
    4. main.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::~RunOnceChecker(void)" (__imp_??1RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@XZ) referenced in function "int `public: __cdecl SDKApp<class QCoreApplication>::SDKApp<class QCoreApplication>(int &,char * *)'::`1'::dtor$5" (?dtor$5@?0???0?$SDKApp@VQCoreApplication@@@@QEAA@AEAHPEAPEAD@Z@4HA)
    5. installerbase.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::~RunOnceChecker(void)" (__imp_??1RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@XZ)
    6. commandlineinterface.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __cdecl RunOnceChecker::~RunOnceChecker(void)" (__imp_??1RunOnceChecker@@QEAA@XZ)
    7. installerbase.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: bool __cdecl RunOnceChecker::isRunning(class QFlags<enum RunOnceChecker::ConditionFlag>)" (__imp_?isRunning@RunOnceChecker@@QEAA_NV?$QFlags@W4ConditionFlag@RunOnceChecker@@@@@Z) referenced in function "public: bool __cdecl SDKApp<class QApplication>::init(class QString &)" (?init@?$SDKApp@VQApplication@@@@QEAA_NAEAVQString@@@Z)
    8. commandlineinterface.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: bool __cdecl RunOnceChecker::isRunning(class QFlags<enum 
    9. RunOnceChecker::ConditionFlag>)" (__imp_?isRunning@RunOnceChecker@@QEAA_NV?$QFlags@W4ConditionFlag@RunOnceChecker@@@@@Z)
    10. installerbase.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) void __cdecl QInstaller::init(void)" (__imp_?init@QInstaller@@YAXXZ) referenced in function "public: __cdecl InstallerBase::InstallerBase(int &,char * * const)" (??0InstallerBase@@QEAA@AEAHQEAPEAD@Z)
    11. commandlineinterface.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) void __cdecl QInstaller::init(void)" (__imp_?init@QInstaller@@YAXXZ)
    12. installerbasecommons.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: class QInstaller::PackageManagerPage * __cdecl GenericFactory<class QInstaller::PackageManagerPage,int,class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *>::create(int const &,class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *)const " (__it &,class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *)const " (__iler@@HPEAVPackageManagerCore@2@@@QEBAPEAVPackageManagerPage@QInstaller@@AEBHPEAVPackageManagerCore@3@@mp_?create@?$GenericFactory@VPackageManagerPage@QInstaller@@HPEAVPackageManagerCore@2@@@QEBAPEAVPackagCore *)" (??0InstallerGui@@QEAA@PEAVPackageManagerCore@eManagerPage@QInstaller@@AEBHPEAVPackageManagerCore@3@@
    13. Z) referenced in function "public: __cdecl InstallerGui::InstallerGui(class QInstaller::PackageManageratic class QInstaller::PackageManagerPageFactory & __cdCore *)" (??0InstallerGui@@QEAA@PEAVPackageManagerCore@d)" (__imp_?instance@PackageManagerPageFactory@QInstaller@@SAAEAV12@XZ) referenced in function "publicQInstaller@@@Z)                                                                                       EAVPackageManagerCore@QInstaller@@@Z)
    14. installerbasecommons.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: sttory<class QInstaller::PackageManagerPage,int,class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *>::create(int const &,class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *)const " (__imp_?create@?$GenericFactory@VPackageManagerPage@QInstaller@@HPEAVPackageManagerCore@2@@@QEBAPEAVPackageManagerPage@QInstaller@@AEBHPEAVPackageManagerCore@3@@Z) referenced in function "public: __cdecl InstallerGui::InstallerGui(class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *)" (??0InstallerGui@@QEAA@PEAVPackageManagerCore@QInstaller@@@Z)
    15. installerbasecommons.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: static class QInstaller::PackageManagerPageFactory & __cdecl QInstaller::PackageManagerPageFactory::instance(void)" (__imp_?instance@PackageManagerPageFactory@QInstaller@@SAAEAV12@XZ) referenced in function "public: __cdecl InstallerGui::InstallerGui(class QInstaller::PackageManagerCore *)" (??0InstallerGui@@QEAA@PEAVPackageManagerCore@QInstaller@@@Z)
    16. ..\..\bin\installerbase.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 6 unresolved externals
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    But I never ever saw installer.dll anywhere. So I don't know how to build this one.

    Have you ever tried dynamic build for IF?

    PS.
    in installer-framework\src\libs\installer\installer.pro there is a line
    Qt Code: 
    1. CONFIG += staticlib
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    which makes me think that dynamic build for IF is impossible.

    Added after 1 33 minutes:


    Seems like due to this bugs discussions(specifically messages from Katja Marttila)
    https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTIFW-3180
    https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTIFW-2611

    It's required to build QT statically for installer.
    Last edited by ikarona; 17th March 2025 at 17:00.
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  8. The following user says thank you to ikarona for this useful post:

    d_stranz (18th March 2025)
  9. 18th March 2025, 15:07 #8
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    It's required to build QT statically for installer.
    Well, I guess that makes sense. If you are building an installer that is based on Qt, there is no guarantee that the required Qt DLLs are already on the PC, so all of the necessary Qt components must be a static part of the installer program. (The application being installed by the installer can be dynamically linked, so the installer must also install the Qt DLLs, but the installer program itself must be statically linked).

    I have not used the IF. However, I am pretty sure you do not need to build ALL of Qt, probably only the qtbase component. Looking at your qmake command, that seems to be the only component you are linking. Your linker errors are because you are trying to link a static IF build to dynamic Qt libraries.
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  10. 18th March 2025, 15:20 #9
    ikarona
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Your linker errors are because you are trying to link a static IF build to dynamic Qt libraries.
    Yes BUT: IF gets CONFIG setting from QT build. So if QT was build static CONFIG contains static, in case of shared, CONFIG contains shared. And this CONFIG applies to IF build. I checked sources deeply and you can build IF dynamic, but you need to change source code to make symbols exported correctly. More specifically, there is flag staticlib added to installer_lib(installer.pro) project 7 years ago, which is impossible to overwrite, also CommandLineParser class need to be exported to make everything link correctly.

    If you are building an installer that is based on Qt, there is no guarantee that the required Qt DLLs are already on the PC
    I can create self extracting archive with possibility for end user to replace my qt libs with his own so It will comply with opensource license and user will get 1-file-installer.
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  11. 18th March 2025, 16:12 #10
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    I can create self extracting archive with possibility for end user to replace my qt libs with his own so It will comply with opensource license and user will get 1-file-installer.
    No, that's not what I meant. If the installer program has a Qt-based GUI (like an install wizard to guide the user through different installation options), then the installer program cannot be sure that the Qt DLLs it needs to run itself are already on the PC. It has to assume that nothing is there, so it needs to provide all of the Qt resources itself. The easiest way to do that is if it is linked statically with Qt so that it carries with it everything it needs to run.
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  12. 18th March 2025, 16:30 #11
    ikarona
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    Default Re: Unresolved external symbol while building Installer Framework

    Exactly, this installer exe with dlls can be placed in SFX.
    SO sfx is your main installer, which uses exe, which was build with qt. in this case you won't need qt installed in system, because they will be in that sfx.
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