Boost.Test error messages are no more shown in error list of VS2010

Question

I am using Boost.Test Unit Test Framework for native C++ projects. All is working fine, but I've got one issue after upgrading to Visual Studio 2010: The messages about failed tests are no more shown in the error list after the tests ran as a post build step. This is a pity since the combination of Boost.Test with native C++ project came closest (although still beeing far away) to the comfort I am used to from unit testing managed projects. I am using the configuration recommended by the authors of Boost.Test here. Can anyone help with this minor but a bit comfort lessening issue?

Regards,

Paul

Answer 1

If you don't want to wait for a release and want to fix the formatter by yourself

open

BOOST_PATH\boost\test\impl\compiler_log_formatter.ipp

change (line 163 in boost_1_46_1)

output << "error in \"" << test_phase_identifier() << "\": ";

to

output << "error : in \"" << test_phase_identifier() << "\": ";

and recompile boost with bjam again.

cd BOOST_PATH
bjam.exe

Answer 2

Visual Studio 2005 Build output for compiler errors looks like this:

|.\ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(8) : error C2065: 'x' : undeclared identifier

Whereas Visual Studio 2010 compiler errors look like this in the output window:

|1>ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(8): error C2065: 'x' : undeclared identifier

(Edit: See the comment by gbjbaanb about the >1.)

Now, crosschecking what BOOST_ERROR outputs (you can use a simple printf to reproduce if you have your exe in the post build step):

VS 2005:

|./ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(8): error in "test_TEST": check true == false failed [1 != 0]

VS 2010:

|1>  ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(10): error in "test_TEST": check true == false failed [true != false]

Slight difference, but not too much and testing further with a manual printf:

printf("ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(00): error : in \"test_TEST\": check true == false failed [true != false]" "\n");
                                  ^^^ .. Note colon here

We also get VS 2010 to recognize this output as error:

BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_TEST)
{
    printf("ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(00): error : in \"test_TEST\": check true == false failed [true != false]" "\n");
    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( true, false);
}

1>------ Build started: Project: ut_TEMPLATE, Configuration: Release Win32 ------
1>  ut_TEMPLATE.cpp
1>  ut_TEMPLATE.vcxproj -> ....\UnitTests\ut_TEMPLATE\..\..\..\Release\ut_TEMPLATE.exe
1>  Running 1 test case...
1>ut_TEMPLATE.cpp : error : in "test_TEST": check true == false failed [true != false]
1>  ut_TEMPLATE.cpp(9): error in "test_TEST": check true == false failed [true != false]
1>C:\Programme\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\Microsoft.CppCommon.targets(113,5): error MSB3073: The command ""....\\ut_TEMPLATE.exe" --result_code=no --report_level=no
1>C:\Programme\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\Microsoft.CppCommon.targets(113,5): error MSB3073: :VCEnd" exited with code -1.
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

So it would appear you/we/Boost.Test needs to tweak it's output so that the VS2010 IDE still recognizes the error message.