preprocessor include

The underscores are used to prevent name collisions with existing code. There are rules about what you are allowed to put after an underscore though (__ is reserved for the implementation, and so is _ followed by a capitol letter). The recommended practice is to use ALL_CAPS for macros.

Try using #pragma once at the top of the header. It''s slightly better than include guards, if the compiler supports it.

//header.h
#ifndef HEADER_H
#define HEADER_H
//header code
#endif

//source.cpp
#include "header.h"
//source code

thanx holmlor.
#pragma directive may or may not be supported.Since i''m learning i wouldn''t want to take chances.

//header.h
#ifndef HEADER_H
#define HEADER_H
//header code
#endif
...thats cool, thanx dude.

It would make more sense if i could just write the name of the header file itself(i.e header.h in this case).So in plain english it would mean "if header.h is already included then dont include it twice"...sorry if i seam to be totally screwd up with my basics...i guess i''ll just go along and learn with making some mistakes eh .

thanx
b

quote:

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Original post by boomji
So in plain english it would mean "if header.h is already included then dont include it twice"...

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Yes - but plain english isn''t always the most accurate.

//header.h
#ifndef HEADER_H
#define HEADER_H
//header code
#endif

What this says is, if the symbol HEADER_H is not defined, define it and include what ever else comes before the closing endif. If the header is included again and HEADER_H is defined, the entire section between the #ifndef and #endif is left out of the inclusion.

I find it helpful to think of the preprocessor as a text substitution mechanism.

I''ve also found it helpful to use command line switches to direct the compiler to output preprocessed source code rather than obj file. This allows for examining the output produced by the preprocessor, how particular macros expanded into code and so on.

The switches to use with MSVC - "cl.exe" - are /F, /FP, and /P. Open a console to the MSVC bin directory and type "cl /?" for details regarding these switches.

If you''re not using MSVC, consult your compiler docs. Chances are quite likely that similar switches are used.

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hey wowwww !!!
what a load of info...thanks.Will digest slooowly .
thank you so much for going a lill beyound what i asked...this sort of thing really helps.Ok i''ll stop gushing.
b

As a good habit to get into, when including a header file, do:

#ifndef the_guard_symbol
#include "the_header_file"
#endif

as well as putting the guard block check inside the header file (so it would be a good idea to have a standard way of defining the guard symbol from the filename). If all that typing is going to put you off the idea then create a macro in your ''insert favourite editor here'' that does it for you.

When you start working on large projects with lots of header files, the preprocessor can slow you down if you''re including lots of headers multiple times (especially if your pulling files of a shared network resource) - not opening a file is always quicker than opening it, reading the file and then discarding the contents (the preprocessor has to search for the closing #endif).

Skizz