CompuServe Thread

Hi everyone. I have only recently purchased the IPAS 4 toolkit, so I am rather new at this. Here's my question: can I compile my IPAS programs using Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 Professional Edition? I know that Metaware and Watcom are the 2 supported compilers, but I was told that Microsoft's would work by an Autodesk rep over the phone when I ordered the toolkit. However, I have been having difficulties compiling. I am trying to compile one of the sample programs (BALL.C) with MS Visual C++. I am getting some floating point warning messages while compiling that I cannot seem to get rid of (is this where the Phar Lapp SDK comes in??). If I ignore the warnings and press on, I am getting the error message "BALL_I.SPX not found" when I try to render with the resulting executable. After I compile, I am renaming the resulting .EXE to BALL_I.SPX, putting it in one of my map paths, and then using it as a texture map — but, like I said, I am getting the "not found" error message. When I use the original BALL_I.SPX that comes with 3DS, I can render fine — so I know my map paths and everything are OK — I can only guess that I am not compiling correctly. I have also noticed that my BALL_I.SPX is much larger in file size than the original one that comes with 3ds. Does anyone out there have any suggestions? Are there any settings in MSVC++ that I need to be aware of? Can I even compile with my version of MSVC++? Do I need Phar Lapp? Would an upgrade to the latest version of MSVC++ work? (I am rather new at C++ too, so any help would be appreciated). If there is any way I can get my current compiler to work and avoid having to invest any more money in an upgrade, a new compiler, or the Phar Lapp SDK, that would be GREAT! For one thing, my wife wouldn't understand, esp. since I already forked over the dough to Autodesk to purchase IPAS4…..