CMake is not finding Boost

Question

I am trying to install CGAL. They describe their installation process as ever-so-simple here, section 6.1. When I run cmake-gui and then click configure, I get the following output:

CMake Error at D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:1192 (message):   Unable to find the requested Boost libraries.    Boost version: 1.51.0    Boost include path: D:/program files/boost_1_51    The following Boost libraries could not be found:            boost_thread           boost_system    No Boost libraries were found.  You may need to set BOOST_LIBRARYDIR to the   directory containing Boost libraries or BOOST_ROOT to the location of   Boost. Call Stack (most recent call first):   cmake/modules/CGAL_SetupBoost.cmake:6 (find_package)   cmake/modules/CGAL_SetupDependencies.cmake:85 (include)   CMakeLists.txt:590 (include) 

But I did set up BOOST_ROOT, in CMake's GUI, to D:/program files/boost_1_51, which exists. And the two libraries it mentions are definitely installed. What is happening here? What do I need to do?

Attached is the output when running cmake -DBoost_DEBUG=ON:

D:\program files\CGAL-4.1>cmake -DBoost_DEBUG=ON == Setting paths == -- Build CGAL from release in directory CGAL-4.1 -- Packagenames: CGAL-4.1 == Setting paths (DONE) ==  == Generate version files == -- CGAL_MAJOR_VERSION=4 -- CGAL_MINOR_VERSION=1 -- CGAL_BUGFIX_VERSION=0 -- CGAL_SONAME_VERSION=10 -- CGAL_SOVERSION     =10.0.0 -- CGAL_REFERENCE_CACHE_DIR= -- Building shared libraries -- Targetting Visual Studio 10 Win64 -- Target build enviroment supports auto-linking -- Using VC10 compiler. -- Generator uses intermediate configuration directory: $(Configuration) -- USING CMake version: 2.8.10 -- System: Windows == Generate version files (DONE) ==  == Set up flags == -- Build type: Release -- USING CXXFLAGS = ' /DWIN32 /D_WINDOWS /W3 /Zm1000 /GR /EHsc -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_ DEPRECATE -D_SCL_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS -D_SCL_SECURE_NO_ WARNINGS /fp:strict /fp:except- /MD /O2 /Ob2 /D NDEBUG' -- USING LDFLAGS = ' /STACK:10000000 /machine:x64  /INCREMENTAL:NO' == Set up flags (DONE) ==  == Detect external libraries == -- External libraries supported: GMP;MPFR;ZLIB;OpenGL;LEDA;MPFI;RS;RS3;OpenNL;TA UCS;Eigen3;BLAS;LAPACK;QGLViewer;ESBTL;Coin3D;NTL;IPE -- Preconfiguring library: GMP ... -- GMP has been preconfigured: --   CGAL_UseGMP-file: --   GMP include:      D:/program files/CGAL-4.1/auxiliary/gmp/include --   GMP libraries:    D:/program files/CGAL-4.1/auxiliary/gmp/lib/libgmp-10.lib  --   GMP definitions: -- USING GMP_VERSION = '5.0.1' -- Preconfiguring library: MPFR ... -- MPFR has been preconfigured: --   CGAL_UseMPFR-file: --   MPFR include:      D:/program files/CGAL-4.1/auxiliary/gmp/include --   MPFR libraries:    D:/program files/CGAL-4.1/auxiliary/gmp/lib/libmpfr-4.li b --   MPFR definitions: -- USING MPFR_VERSION = '3.0.0' -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:566 ] _b oost_TEST_VERSIONS = 1.56.1;1.56.0;1.56;1.55.1;1.55.0;1.55;1.54.1;1.54.0;1.54;1. 53.1;1.53.0;1.53;1.52.1;1.52.0;1.52;1.51.1;1.51.0;1.51;1.50.1;1.50.0;1.50;1.49.1 ;1.49.0;1.49;1.48.1;1.48.0;1.48;1.47.1;1.47.0;1.47;1.46.1;1.46.0;1.46;1.45.1;1.4 5.0;1.45;1.44.1;1.44.0;1.44;1.43.1;1.43.0;1.43;1.42.1;1.42.0;1.42;1.41.1;1.41.0; 1.41;1.40.1;1.40.0;1.40;1.39.1;1.39.0;1.39;1.38.1;1.38.0;1.38;1.37.1;1.37.0;1.37 ;1.56.0;1.56;1.55.0;1.55;1.54.0;1.54;1.53.0;1.53;1.52.0;1.52;1.51.0;1.51;1.50.0; 1.50;1.49.0;1.49;1.48.0;1.48;1.47.0;1.47;1.46.1;1.46.0;1.46;1.45.0;1.45;1.44.0;1 .44;1.43.0;1.43;1.42.0;1.42;1.41.0;1.41;1.40.0;1.40;1.39.0;1.39;1.38.0;1.38;1.37 .0;1.37;1.36.1;1.36.0;1.36;1.35.1;1.35.0;1.35;1.34.1;1.34.0;1.34;1.33.1;1.33 -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:568 ] Bo ost_USE_MULTITHREADED = TRUE -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:570 ] Bo ost_USE_STATIC_LIBS = OFF -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:572 ] Bo ost_USE_STATIC_RUNTIME = -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:574 ] Bo ost_ADDITIONAL_VERSIONS = 1.56.1;1.56.0;1.56;1.55.1;1.55.0;1.55;1.54.1;1.54.0;1. 54;1.53.1;1.53.0;1.53;1.52.1;1.52.0;1.52;1.51.1;1.51.0;1.51;1.50.1;1.50.0;1.50;1 .49.1;1.49.0;1.49;1.48.1;1.48.0;1.48;1.47.1;1.47.0;1.47;1.46.1;1.46.0;1.46;1.45. 1;1.45.0;1.45;1.44.1;1.44.0;1.44;1.43.1;1.43.0;1.43;1.42.1;1.42.0;1.42;1.41.1;1. 41.0;1.41;1.40.1;1.40.0;1.40;1.39.1;1.39.0;1.39;1.38.1;1.38.0;1.38;1.37.1;1.37.0 ;1.37 -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:576 ] Bo ost_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS = -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:644 ] De clared as CMake or Environmental Variables: -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:646 ] BOOST_ROOT = D:/program files/boost_1_51/bin -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:648 ] BOOST_INCLUDEDIR = -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:650 ] BOOST_LIBRARYDIR = -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:652 ] _b oost_TEST_VERSIONS = 1.56.1;1.56.0;1.56;1.55.1;1.55.0;1.55;1.54.1;1.54.0;1.54;1. 53.1;1.53.0;1.53;1.52.1;1.52.0;1.52;1.51.1;1.51.0;1.51;1.50.1;1.50.0;1.50;1.49.1 ;1.49.0;1.49;1.48.1;1.48.0;1.48;1.47.1;1.47.0;1.47;1.46.1;1.46.0;1.46;1.45.1;1.4 5.0;1.45;1.44.1;1.44.0;1.44;1.43.1;1.43.0;1.43;1.42.1;1.42.0;1.42;1.41.1;1.41.0; 1.41;1.40.1;1.40.0;1.40;1.39.1;1.39.0;1.39;1.38.1;1.38.0;1.38;1.37.1;1.37.0;1.37 ;1.56.0;1.56;1.55.0;1.55;1.54.0;1.54;1.53.0;1.53;1.52.0;1.52;1.51.0;1.51;1.50.0; 1.50;1.49.0;1.49;1.48.0;1.48;1.47.0;1.47;1.46.1;1.46.0;1.46;1.45.0;1.45;1.44.0;1 .44;1.43.0;1.43;1.42.0;1.42;1.41.0;1.41;1.40.0;1.40;1.39.0;1.39;1.38.0;1.38;1.37 .0;1.37;1.36.1;1.36.0;1.36;1.35.1;1.35.0;1.35;1.34.1;1.34.0;1.34;1.33.1;1.33 -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:734 ] lo cation of version.hpp: D:/program files/boost_1_51/boost/version.hpp -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:754 ] ve rsion.hpp reveals boost 1.51.0 -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:786 ] gu essed _boost_COMPILER = -vc100 -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:796 ] _b oost_MULTITHREADED = -mt -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:839 ] _b oost_RELEASE_ABI_TAG = - -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:841 ] _b oost_DEBUG_ABI_TAG = -gd -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:884 ] _b oost_LIBRARY_SEARCH_DIRS = D:/program files/boost_1_51/bin/lib;D:/program files/ boost_1_51/bin/stage/lib;D:/program files/boost_1_51/lib;D:/program files/boost_ 1_51/../lib;D:/program files/boost_1_51/stage/lib;C:/boost/lib;C:/boost;C:\Progr am Files (x86)/boost/boost_1_51_0/lib;C:\Program Files (x86)/boost/boost_1_51/li b;C:\Program Files (x86)/boost/lib;C:\Program Files (x86)/boost;/sw/local/lib -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:962 ] Se arching for THREAD_LIBRARY_RELEASE: boost_thread-vc100-mt-1_51;boost_thread-vc10 0-mt;boost_thread-mt-1_51;boost_thread-mt;boost_thread -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:994 ] Se arching for THREAD_LIBRARY_DEBUG: boost_thread-vc100-mt-gd-1_51;boost_thread-vc1 00-mt-gd;boost_thread-mt-gd-1_51;boost_thread-mt-gd;boost_thread-mt;boost_thread  -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:962 ] Se arching for SYSTEM_LIBRARY_RELEASE: boost_system-vc100-mt-1_51;boost_system-vc10 0-mt;boost_system-mt-1_51;boost_system-mt;boost_system -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:994 ] Se arching for SYSTEM_LIBRARY_DEBUG: boost_system-vc100-mt-gd-1_51;boost_system-vc1 00-mt-gd;boost_system-mt-gd-1_51;boost_system-mt-gd;boost_system-mt;boost_system  -- [ D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmake:1108 ] B oost_FOUND = FALSE CMake Error at D:/program files/CMake 2.8/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/FindBoost.cmak e:1192 (message):   Unable to find the requested Boost libraries.    Boost version: 1.51.0    Boost include path: D:/program files/boost_1_51    The following Boost libraries could not be found:            boost_thread           boost_system    No Boost libraries were found.  You may need to set BOOST_LIBRARYDIR to the   directory containing Boost libraries or BOOST_ROOT to the location of   Boost. Call Stack (most recent call first):   cmake/modules/CGAL_SetupBoost.cmake:6 (find_package)   cmake/modules/CGAL_SetupDependencies.cmake:85 (include)   CMakeLists.txt:590 (include)   -- Boost include:     D:/program files/boost_1_51 -- Boost libraries: -- Boost definitions: -- USING BOOST_VERSION = '1.51.0' == Detect external libraries (DONE) ==  == Write compiler_config.h == == Write compiler_config.h (DONE) ==  == Generating build files == Configuring libCGAL -- Requested component: MPFR -- Requested component: GMP libCGAL is configured -- Sources for CGAL component library 'Core' detected Configuring libCGAL_Core -- Requested component: MPFR -- Requested component: GMP libCGAL_Core is configured -- Sources for CGAL component library 'ImageIO' detected Configuring libCGAL_ImageIO -- Could NOT find ZLIB (missing:  ZLIB_LIBRARY ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR) -- OpenGL include: -- OpenGL libraries:   glu32;opengl32 -- Requested component: MPFR -- Requested component: GMP libCGAL_ImageIO is configured -- NOTICE: CGAL_ImageIO needs ZLib to read compressed files. That feature will n ot be activated. -- Sources for CGAL component library 'Qt3' detected Configuring libCGAL_Qt3 -- CGAL_Qt3 needs Qt3, cannot be configured. -- Sources for CGAL component library 'Qt4' detected Configuring libCGAL_Qt4 -- USING OPENGL_VERSION = '1.1' -- USING QT4_VERSION = '4.8.3' -- OpenGL include: -- OpenGL libraries:   glu32;opengl32 -- OpenGL definitions: -- Qt4 include:        D:/QT/include -- Qt4 libraries:      optimized;D:/QT/lib/qtmain.lib;debug;D:/QT/lib/qtmaind.li b;optimized;D:/QT/lib/QtOpenGL4.lib;debug;D:/QT/lib/QtOpenGLd4.lib;optimized;D:/ QT/lib/QtGui4.lib;debug;D:/QT/lib/QtGuid4.lib;optimized;D:/QT/lib/QtCore4.lib;de bug;D:/QT/lib/QtCored4.lib -- Qt4 definitions:    -DQT_DLL -- moc executable:     D:/QT/bin/moc.exe -- uic executable:     D:/QT/bin/uic.exe -- Requested component: MPFR -- Requested component: GMP libCGAL_Qt4 is configured -- Sources for CGAL component libraries 'CGAL;Core;ImageIO;Qt3;Qt4' detected == Generating build files (DONE) ==  -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred! 

_{(I saw at least three questions with the same title as this question. Each of them had a different answer that worked for the OP, but not for me, so I am sorry to repeat the question...)}

Answer 1

Your output shows that CMake is searching for the libraries in the following places:

D:/program files/boost_1_51/bin/lib D:/program files/boost_1_51/bin/stage/lib D:/program files/boost_1_51/lib D:/program files/boost_1_51/../lib D:/program files/boost_1_51/stage/lib C:/boost/lib C:/boost C:\Program Files (x86)/boost/boost_1_51_0/lib C:\Program Files (x86)/boost/boost_1_51/lib C:\Program Files (x86)/boost/lib C:\Program Files (x86)/boost /sw/local/lib 

It also shows that it's expecting the libraries to be named in a certain way. For example, the release version of Boost.Thread:

boost_thread-vc100-mt-1_51 boost_thread-vc100-mt boost_thread-mt-1_51 boost_thread-mt boost_thread 

If your Boost libraries do exist in one of the searched locations, then it's probably the name of the library that's the problem. You can adjust the expected name of the Boost libraries by setting the appropriate CMake variables relevant to the FindBoost module.

For example, if you built Boost using bjam with link=static threading=multi then in your CMakeLists.txt before find_package(Boost ...) you'll want to do

set(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS ON) set(Boost_USE_MULTITHREADED ON) 

Or invoke CMake with -DBoost_USE_STATIC_LIBS=ON -DBoost_USE_MULTITHREADED=ON.

As @noam has pointed out in the comments below, in this particular case, it appears that CGAL requires the shared (DLL) versions of the Boost libraries; passing -DBoost_USE_STATIC_LIBS=ON on the command line doesn't have any effect.