Building with CMake

Table of Contents

• General
• Start CMake
• Configuration process
• 3rd party search mechanism
• Projects generation
• Building
• Installation

General

This article describes the CMake-based build process, which is now suggested as a standard way to produce the binaries of Open CASCADE Technology from sources. OCCT requires CMake version 2.8.12 or later.

Note

Compared to the previous (6.x) releases of Open CASCADE Technology, OCCT 7.x has a complete set of CMake scripts and projects, so that there is no need to use WOK anymore. Moreover, CMake gives you a powerful configuration tool, which allows to control many aspects of OCCT deployment. At the same time this tool is quite intuitive, which is a significant advantage over the legacy WOK utilities.

Here we describe the build procedure on the example of Windows platform with Visual Studio 2010. However, CMake is cross-platform and can be used to build OCCT on Linux and OS X in essentially the same way.

Note

Before you start, make sure to have installed all 3-rd party products that you are going to use with OCCT; see Building OCCT from sources.

Start CMake

CMake is a tool that generates the actual project files for the selected target build system (e.g. Unix makefiles) or IDE (e.g. Visual Studio 2010).

For unexperienced users we recommend to start with cmake-gui – a cross-platform GUI tool provided by CMake on Windows, Mac and Linux. A command-line alternative, ccmake can also be used.

CMake deals with three directories: source, build or binary and installation.

• The source directory is where the sources of OCCT are located in your file system;
• The build or binary directory is where all files created during CMake configuration and generation process will be located. The mentioned process will be described below.
• The installation directory is where binaries will be installed after building the INSTALL project that is created by CMake generation process, along with header files and resources required for OCCT use in applications.

The good practice is not to use the source directory as a build one. Different configurations should be built in different build directories to avoid conflicts. It is however possible to choose one installation directory for several configurations of OCCT (differentiated by platform, bitness, compiler and build type), for example:

d:/occt/                   -- the source directory
d:/tmp/occt-build-vc10-x64 -- the build directory with the generated
                              solution and other intermediate files created during a CMake tool working
d:/occt-install            -- the installation directory that is
                              able to contain several OCCT configurations

Configuration process

If the command-line tool is used, run the tool from the build directory with a single argument indicating the source (relative or absolute path) directory:

cd d:/tmp/occt-build-vc10-x64
ccmake d:/occt

Press c to configure.

All actions required in the configuration process with the GUI tool will be described below.

If the GUI tool is used, run this tool without additional arguments and after that specify the source directory by clicking Browse Source and the build (binary) one by clicking Browse Build.

Note: Each configuration of the project should be built in its own directory. When building multiple configurations it is recommended to indicate in the name of build directories the system, bitness and compiler (e.g., d:/occt/build/win32-vc10 ).

Once the source and build directories are selected, "Configure" button should be pressed in order to start manual configuration process. It begins with selection of a target configurator. It is "Visual Studio 10 2010 Win64" in our example.

To build OCCT for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) specify the path to toolchain file for cross-compiling d:/occt/adm/templates/uwp.toolchain.config.cmake.

Alternatively, if you are using CMake from the command line add options -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=WindowsStore -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_VERSION=10.0 .

Note: Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is supported only on "Visual Studio 14 2015". File d:/occt/samples/xaml/ReadMe.md describes the building procedure of XAML (UWP) sample.

Once "Finish" button is pressed, the first pass of the configuration process is executed. At the end of the process, CMake outputs the list of environment variables, which have to be properly specified for successful configuration.

The error message provides some information about these variables. This message will appear after each pass of the process until all required variables are specified correctly.

The change of the state of some variables can lead to the appearance of new variables. The new variables appeared after the pass of the configuration process are highlighted with red color by CMake GUI tool.

Note: There is "grouped" option, which groups variables with a common prefix.

The following table gives the full list of environment variables used at the configuration stage:

Variable	Type	Purpose
CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE	String	Specifies the build type on single-configuration generators (such as make). Possible values are Debug, Release and RelWithDebInfo
USE_FREEIMAGE	Boolean flag	Indicates whether FreeImage product should be used in OCCT visualization module for support of popular graphics image formats (PNG, BMP, etc.)
USE_GL2PS	Boolean flag	Indicates whether GL2PS product should be used in OCCT visualization module for support of vector image formats (PS, EPS, etc.)
USE_TBB	Boolean flag	Indicates whether TBB 3rd party is used or not. TBB stands for Threading Building Blocks, the technology of Intel Corp, which comes with different mechanisms and patterns for injecting parallelism into your application. OCCT remains parallel even without TBB product
USE_VTK	Boolean flag	Indicates whether VTK 3rd party is used or not. VTK stands for Visualization ToolKit, the technology of Kitware Inc intended for general-purpose scientific visualization. OCCT comes with a bridge between CAD data representation and VTK by means of its dedicated VIS component (VTK Integration Services). You may skip this 3rd party unless you are planning to use VTK visualization for OCCT geometry. See the official documentation VTK Integration Services (VIS) for the details on VIS
3RDPARTY_DIR	Path	Defines the root directory where all required 3rd party products will be searched. Once you define this path it is very convenient to click "Configure" button in order to let CMake automatically detect all necessary products
3RDPARTY_FREETYPE_*	Path	Path to Freetype binaries
3RDPARTY_TCL_* 3RDPARTY_TK_*	Path	Path to Tcl/Tk binaries
3RDPARTY_FREEIMAGE*	Path	Path to Freeimage binaries
3RDPARTY_GL2PS_*	Path	Path to GL2PS binaries
3RDPARTY_TBB*	Path	Path to TBB binaries
3RDPARTY_VTK_*	Path	Path to VTK binaries
BUILD_MODULE_<MODULE>	Boolean flag	Indicates whether the corresponding OCCT module should be built or not. It should be noted that some toolkits of a module can be built even if this module is not checked (this happens if some other modules depend on these toolkits). The main modules and their descriptions can be found in User Guides
BUILD_LIBRARY_TYPE	String	Specifies the type of library to be created. "Shared" libraries are linked dynamically and loaded at runtime. "Static" libraries are archives of object files used when linking other targets
BUILD_ADDITIONAL_TOOLKITS	String	Semicolon-separated individual toolkits to include into build process. If you want to build some particular libraries (toolkits) only, then you may uncheck all modules in the corresponding BUILD_MODUE_<MODULE> options and provide the list of necessary libraries here. Of course, all dependencies will be resolved automatically
BUILD_YACCLEX	Boolean flag	Enables Flex/Bison lexical analyzers. OCCT source files relating to STEP reader and ExprIntrp functionality are generated automatically with Flex/Bison. Checking this option leads to automatic search of Flex/Bison binaries and regeneration of the mentioned files
BUILD_MODULE_MfcSamples	Boolean flag	Indicates whether MFC samples should be built together with OCCT. This option is only relevant to Windows platforms
BUILD_Inspector	Boolean flag	Indicates whether Inspector should be built together with OCCT.
BUILD_DOC_Overview	Boolean flag	Indicates whether OCCT overview documentation project should be created together with OCCT. It is not built together with OCCT. Checking this option leads to automatic search of Doxygen binaries. Its building calls Doxygen command to generate the documentation in HTML format
BUILD_PATCH	Path	Points to the directory recognized as a "patch" for OCCT. If specified, the files from this directory take precedence over the corresponding native OCCT sources. This way you are able to introduce patches to Open CASCADE Technology not affecting the original source distribution
BUILD_WITH_DEBUG	Boolean flag	Enables extended messages of many OCCT algorithms, usually printed to cout. These include messages on internal errors and special cases encountered, timing, etc.
BUILD_ENABLE_FPE_SIGNAL_HANDLER	Boolean flag	Enable/Disable the floating point exceptions (FPE) during DRAW execution only. Corresponding environment variable (CSF_FPE) can be changed manually in custom.bat/sh scripts without regeneration by CMake.
CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES	String	Semicolon-separated CMake configurations
INSTALL_DIR	Path	Points to the installation directory. INSTALL_DIR is a synonym of CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX. The user can specify both INSTALL_DIR or CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX
INSTALL_DIR_BIN	Path	Relative path to the binaries installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_BIN})
INSTALL_DIR_SCRIPT	Path	Relative path to the scripts installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_SCRIPT})
INSTALL_DIR_LIB	Path	Relative path to the libraries installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_LIB})
INSTALL_DIR_INCLUDE	Path	Relative path to the includes installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_INCLUDE})
INSTALL_DIR_RESOURCE	Path	Relative path to the resources installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_RESOURCE})
INSTALL_DIR_LAYOUT	String	Defines the structure of OCCT files (binaries, resources, headers, etc.) for the install directory. Two variants are predefined: for Windows (standard OCCT layout) and for Unix operating systems (standard Linux layout). If needed, the layout can be customized with INSTALL_DIR_* variables
INSTALL_DIR_DATA	Path	Relative path to the data files installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_DATA})
INSTALL_DIR_SAMPLES	Path	Relative path to the samples installation directory. Note that only "samples/tcl" folder will be installed. (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_SAMPLES})
INSTALL_DIR_TESTS	Path	Relative path to the tests installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_TESTS})
INSTALL_DIR_DOC	Path	Relative path to the documentation installation directory (absolute path is ${INSTALL_DIR}/${INSTALL_DIR_DOC})
INSTALL_FREETYPE	Boolean flag	Indicates whether Freetype binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_FREEIMAGE*	Boolean flag	Indicates whether Freeimage binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_GL2PS	Boolean flag	Indicates whether GL2PS binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_TBB	Boolean flag	Indicates whether TBB binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_VTK	Boolean flag	Indicates whether VTK binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_TCL	Boolean flag	Indicates whether TCL binaries should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_TEST_CASES	Boolean flag	Indicates whether non-regression OCCT test scripts should be installed into the installation directory
INSTALL_DOC_Overview	Boolean flag	Indicates whether OCCT overview documentation should be installed into the installation directory

Note: Only the forward slashes ("/") are acceptable in the CMake options defining paths.

3rd party search mechanism

If 3RDPARTY_DIR directory is defined, then required 3rd party binaries are sought in it, and default system folders are ignored.

The procedure expects to find binary and header files of each 3rd party product in its own sub-directory: bin, lib and include.

The results of the search (achieved on the next pass of the configuration process) are recorded in the corresponding variables:

• 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DIR – path to the 3rdparty directory (with directory name) (e.g. D:/3rdparty/tcltk-86-32)
• 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_LIBRARY_DIR – path to the directory containing a library (e.g. D:/3rdparty/tcltk-86-32/lib).
• 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_INCLUDE_DIR – path to the directory containing a header file (e.g., D:/3rdparty/tcltk-86-32/include)
• 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DLL_DIR – path to the directory containing a shared library (e.g., D:/3rdparty/tcltk-86-32/bin) This variable is only relevant to Windows platforms.

Note: each library and include directory should be children of the product directory if the last one is defined.

The search process is as follows:

1. Common path: 3RDPARTY_DIR
2. Path to a particular 3rd-party library: 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DIR
3. Paths to headers and binaries:
   1. 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_INCLUDE_DIR
   2. 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_LIBRARY_DIR
   3. 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DLL_DIR

If a variable of any level is not defined (empty or <variable name>-NOTFOUND ) and the upper level variable is defined, the content of the non-defined variable will be sought at the next configuration step. If the search process at level 3 does not find the required files, it seeks in default places.

If a search result (include path, or library path, or dll path) does not meet your expectations, you can change 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>__DIR variable*, clear (if they are not empty) 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DLL_DIR, 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_INCLUDE_DIR and 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_LIBRARY_DIR variables (or clear one of them) and run the configuration process again.

At this time the search will be performed in the newly identified directory and the result will be recorded to corresponding variables (replace old value if it is necessary).

For example, 3RDPARTY_FREETYPE_DIR variable

d:/3rdparty/freetype-2.4.10

can be changed to

d:/3rdparty/freetype-2.5.3

During the configuration process the related variables (3RDPARTY_FREETYPE_DLL_DIR, 3RDPARTY_FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIR and 3RDPARTY_FREETYPE_LIBRARY_DIR) will be filled with new found values.

Note: The names of searched libraries and header files are hard-coded. If there is the need to change their names, change appropriate cmake variables (edit CMakeCache.txt file or edit in cmake-gui in advance mode) without reconfiguration: 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_INCLUDE for include, 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_LIB for library and 3RDPARTY_<PRODUCT>_DLL for shared library.

Projects generation

Once the configuration process is done, the "Generate" button is used to prepare project files for the target IDE. In our exercise the Visual Studio solution will be automatically created in the buid directory.

Building

Go to the build folder, start the Visual Studio solution OCCT.sln and build it by clicking Build -> Build Solution.

By default the build solution process skips the building of the INSTALL and Overview project.

When the building process is finished build:

• Overview project to generate OCCT overview documentation (if BUILD_DOC_Overview variable is checked)
• the INSTALL project to run the installation process

For this, right-click on the Overview/INSTALL project and select Project Only -> Build Only -> Overview/INSTALL in the solution explorer.

Installation

Installation is a process of extracting redistributable resources (binaries, include files etc) from the build directory into the installation one. The installation directory will be free of project files, intermediate object files and any other information related to the build routines.

Normally you use the installation directory of OCCT to link against your specific application.

The directory structure is as follows:

data            -- data files for OCCT (brep, iges, stp)
doc             -- OCCT overview documentation in HTML format
inc             -- header files
samples         -- samples
src             -- all required source files for OCCT
tests           -- OCCT test suite
win32\vc10\bind -- binary files (installed 3rdparties and occt)
          \libd -- libraries (installed 3rdparties and occt)

Note: The above example is given for debug configuration. However, it is generally safe to use the same installation directory for the release build. In the latter case the contents of install directory will be enriched with subdirectories and files related to the release configuration. In particular, the binaries directory win64 will be expanded as follows:

\win32\vc10\bind
           \libd
           \bin
           \lib

If CMake installation flags are enabled for the 3rd party products (e.g. INSTALL_FREETYPE), then the corresponding binaries will be copied to the same bin(d) and lib(d) directories together with the native binaries of OCCT. Such organization of libraries can be especially helpful if your OCCT-based software does not use itself the 3rd parties of Open CASCADE Technology (thus, there is no sense to pack them into dedicated directories).

The installation folder contains the scripts to run DRAWEXE (draw.bat or draw.sh), samples (if they were installed) and overview.html (short-cut for installed OCCT overview documentation).