Compatibility with Windows API

[svrtgujbhk]

I wanted to use SFML's networking module, but it seems there are some compatibility issues with WinAPI.

The first issue, which I guess you know about, is that you must include <SFML/Network.hpp> before <windows.h> or it won't compile (some symbols are redefined).

However, if you include SFML first, the functions in the WinAPI header are no longer available. I tried to use ShellExecute, for example, and compiler cannot find the function declared anywhere.

Is there a way to solve this?
Or is there a way to run shell commands from SFML?

[Nexus]

Encapsulate the WinAPI calls in a separate translation unit, where you only include <Windows.h>?

[Laurent]

SFML defines the WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN macro, which is apparently the reason why ShellExecute is no longer defined if you include Network.hpp first.

So Nexus solution is the only one with SFML 1.6. With SFML 2 however, it works fine if you include Network.hpp after <windows.h>.

But I can probably remove WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN, all it does is to speed up compilation of SFML a little bit, it has no impact on libraries size or performances. It should work if you simply remove it from your SFML/Config.hpp (as a quick and dirty solution).

[svrtgujbhk]

Thank you two for your help.