using static libraries instead of dynamic libraries in opencv

Question

I have a project in visual studio 2012 which uses opencv dynamic libraries. It compiled, linked and worked well.

I want to change the project so it uses static libra

Answer 1

For Visual Studio 2012 with OpenCV 3.0.0, these problems still apply, and the solutions in this thread are relevant. Here's my setup to get it to work:

Windows' System Environment Variables

Set in Windows' System Environment Variables: OPENCV_DIR = D:\OpenCV\build\x64\v11 (replace D:\OpenCV\ with whatever your path to opencv is. Also, x64 for 64-bit machines, x86 for 32-bit machines).

Use staticlib for AdditionalLibraryDirectories

Set the Additional Library Directories (View > Property Pages > Configuration Properties > Linker > General > Additional Library Directories) to: $(OPENCV_DIR)\staticlib;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)

Runtime Library

Change the Code Generation > Runtime Library to Multi-threaded Debug (/MTd) per uosɐſ's answer, otherwise you'll get this kind of error:

Error   1   error LNK2038: mismatch detected for 'RuntimeLibrary': value
'MTd_StaticDebug' doesn't match value 'MDd_DynamicDebug' in Source.obj
C:\Users\...\documents\visual studio 2012\Projects\OpenCVTest2\OpenCVTest2\opencv_core300d.lib(alloc.obj)   OpenCVTest2

Finally, the Additional Dependencies list

My Additional Dependencies must include all the library names in the staticlib directory. Mind the version numbers; since I'm using OpenCV 3.0.0, the filenames ends with *300d.lib. I believe the comctl32.lib and vfw32.lib are not in the staticlib, but I added them just in case (View > Property Pages > Configuration Properties > Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies):

opencv_calib3d300d.lib
opencv_core300d.lib
opencv_features2d300d.lib
opencv_flann300d.lib
opencv_hal300d.lib
opencv_highgui300d.lib
opencv_imgcodecs300d.lib
opencv_imgproc300d.lib
opencv_ml300d.lib
opencv_objdetect300d.lib
opencv_photo300d.lib
opencv_shape300d.lib
opencv_stitching300d.lib
opencv_superres300d.lib
opencv_ts300d.lib
opencv_video300d.lib
opencv_videostab300d.lib
libtiffd.lib
libpngd.lib
libjpegd.lib
libjasperd.lib
IlmImfd.lib
libwebpd.lib
ippicvmt.lib
zlibd.lib
comctl32.lib
vfw32.lib

x86 vs x64

I also ran into this issue that VS2012 claims the target machine does not match the module machine type like this guy. The solution is given here.