Build with CLion using VC6 or Win32

This guide configures CLion for the vc6 and win32 CMake presets. Shared presets, options, targets, output paths, and installation steps are documented in the Building with CMake guide.

Requirements

• Windows
• CLion
• Git
• One or both supported Visual C++ toolchains:
  • Visual C++ 6 for vc6
  • Visual Studio Build Tools for C++ with the required components for win32

CLion’s bundled CMake can be used. The Win32 toolchain can also use the bundled Ninja.

Configure the toolchains

Open File > Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Toolchains.

Visual C++ 6

1. Add a System toolchain and name it exactly Visual Studio 6.

2. Add this environment file:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\Bin\VCVARS32.bat

   Warning: In CLion, ensure the environment file extension is lowercase .bat, not .BAT. The uppercase extension can prevent CLion from detecting the environment.

3. Set Build Tool to VC6’s NMAKE.EXE:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\Bin\NMAKE.EXE

4. CLion should detect cl.exe for both compilers; if it does not, select VC98\Bin\cl.exe manually.

Win32

Add a Visual Studio toolchain, select the Visual Studio Build Tools installation, and name it exactly Visual Studio. Keep the bundled Ninja build tool.

The exact names matter because CMakePresets.json uses them to select the correct toolchain automatically.

Clone and open the source

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/TheSuperHackers/GeneralsGameCode.git

Open the cloned GeneralsGameCode directory in CLion.

Configure the CMake profiles

After opening the project, CLion imports the profiles from CMakePresets.json:

1. Open File > Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > CMake.

2. Disable the default Debug profile.

3. Enable the profiles for either toolchain or both:

   Build	Visual C++ 6	Win32
   Release	vc6	win32
   Debug	vc6-debug	win32-debug
   Profile	vc6-profile	win32-profile

4. Wait for CMake to finish loading the selected profiles.

Retail compatibility: Only VC6 Release builds are compatible with retail multiplayer and replays.

Configure running

Configure both g_generals and z_generals separately:

1. Select the game target from the Run/Debug Configurations dropdown, open the dropdown again, and choose Edit Configurations.

2. Set optional Program arguments, such as -win or -quickstart.

3. Set Executable to the installed game executable:

   C:\Path\To\Generals\generalsv.exe
   C:\Path\To\Zero Hour\generalszh.exe

4. Set Working directory to the corresponding game directory.

5. Under Before launch, remove the Build step and add the top-level install target instead.

6. Enable Run as administrator if the install target is in a protected directory such as Program Files.

Build and run

Select a CMake profile and the g_generals or z_generals configuration, then click Run. The install step copies the built executable into the game directory before CLion launches it.

See Install to set the game directories manually.

Troubleshooting

A preset is missing

Confirm that CLion opened the repository root containing CMakePresets.json. Use Help > Find Action > Load CMake Presets, or reset the CMake cache and reload the project.

A toolchain is not selected

Confirm that the toolchains are named exactly Visual Studio 6 and Visual Studio, then reload the CMake project.

The VC6 compiler is not found

Confirm that the VC6 toolchain uses VCVARS32.bat as its environment file. If necessary, select VC98\Bin\cl.exe as both compilers and reset the affected CMake profile.