visual studio 2010 noob

[slider57]

In microsoft visual studio 2010 I want to use a command line to run my program and compile it. also the program I am working on right now is supposed to read a file off the command line but I dont know how to give it arguments either. I have looked at some lists of commands for it and decided shell.tools <program name> <argument to program> was the way to go but it also wont work. Then I cant figure out how to set the working directory of the command window to that of the location of my files. I am so messed up right now ive only done text based in linux, any help would be HIGHLY appreciated.

[Silvestar]

have u tried to see microsoft visual studio 2010 FAQ?
lots of stuff is explained there

[modoran]

It looks like you don't really need Visual Studio if you want to compile from command line, windows SDK it what you are looking for.

[slider57]

@Silverstar - I have looked at a lot of documentation for it. The problem is just sorting out all the irrelevant information.
@modoran - well I use emacs and GNU currently but the debugger is so much nicer in visual C++ that I really want to learn it. As of now the debugger in GNU is so clucky I just end up putting cerr statements in my code to find the error.

I know that Visual C++ is for larger type projects and not for the simple stuff I usally do as of yet (usually less than 1000 lines of code) but I'd like to learn it before I get to those large projects. Anyway, thanks for responding guys.

[ResidentBiscuit]

Pretty sure VS comes with a command line already set up for you. Have you looked in the directory that VS is at for this?

But yea, working with the terminal in *nix is much easier than working in windows command prompt.

[htirwin]

You can go to view->Other Windows->Command Window, and you will have a command line inside the IDE.