Is it possible to declare an instant of a class as extern or is it only possible with variables and functions? e.g. main.cpp

        
#include "main.h"

#include "myclass.h"


extern cmyclass *myinst = NULL;

void initfunction()
{
    myinst = new cmyclass();
    afunction();
}

//more code, etc...
.
.
.
[/source]

//please excuse the fact that the message board software can't handle two lots of source code in one message <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>


other.cpp:

[source]
#include "main.h"

#include "myclass.h"

#include "other.h"


cmyclass *myinst;

void afunction()
{
    myinst->dosomething();
}

//code, blah...
.
.
.
    

I keep getting compiler errors telling me that myinst is being redeclared. Is this a syntax type error on my part or is it not possilbe to do this with class instances? Help me Edited by - poontardis on 7/20/00 6:06:33 AM

Hye !

at least 2 source files call your header file "myclass.h" so your compiler wants to define your class again.

put an environment variable in your header file like this:

#ifndef ENV_VAR_MYCLASS
#define ENV_VAR_MYCLASS

.
.
//class declaration with its #includes, etc.
.
.

#endif

your compiler will define your class one time only for all your project

tell me if it works

[Ask you might be able to guess this message was posted before seeing the previous post, but I thought I'd leave it anyway]

Poontardis, The answers your question is yes, you can use class instances as globals ( or declare them as extern ) So I guess it must be your syntax which is wrong, though I can't see any thing wrong with it.

Anyway here's a short example which uses an external class instance, though you'll have to bear with me which I try and figure out how best to insert source code into a message.

(Example compiled/ checked with djgpp)

---File globals.h---
#ifndef GLOBALS_H
#define GLOBALS_H

#include "foo.h"

extern CFoo* g_pFooInstance;

#endif

---File foo.h---
#ifndef FOO_H
#define FOO_H

class CFoo
{
private:
int m_i;
public:
CFoo ( int p_i );
~CFoo ( void ){};
};

#endif

---File foo.cpp---
#include

#include "foo.h"
#include "globals.h"

// Storage & initialisation for global
CFoo* g_pFooInstance = NULL;

// Constructor
CFoo::CFoo ( int p_i )
:m_i(p_i)
{};

---File main.cpp---
#include

#include "foo.h"
#include "globals.h"

int main ( void )
{
g_pFooInstance = new CFoo ( 2 );
delete g_pFooInstance;
g_pFooInstance = NULL;

return (0);
}

Edited by - TomH on July 20, 2000 8:45:03 AM

I''ve got #defines to stop headers being compiled more than once, so that''s not the problem.

Having looked at your source code I can''t see what it is I''m doing wrong, so here''s a sort of overview of the context of my code:

I have a logfile class which is defined in my own files Error.h|cpp, an instant of this class is created by:

cError app_log = new cError("mylog.log", "Application Title", LOG_ERRORS);



this is implemented in my main unit (main.h|cpp) as:

#include "main.h"
#include "OpenGL_Util.h" //my own OpenGL unit
#include "error.h" //my own log file unit

extern cError app_log = NULL; //externally accessable class instance

void Init()
{
//initialise the application log file
app_log = new cError("app.log", "My App", LOG_ERRORS);
}

... blah

I also wish to use the same log file in other units (such as OpenGL_Util.h|cpp) when debugging where it is declared as:

#include "OpenGL_Util.h"

#ifdef _DEBUG
#include "error.h" //my own log file unit
#include "main.h" //main unit holding extern declaration of app_log

cError app_log;
#endif

void InitOpenGLFunc()
{
#ifdef _DEBUG
app_log->PrintLog("OpenGL initialisation beginning");
#endif

...blah
}

...





So, can anyone see what I''m doing wrong here? I get a linker error (sorry, I said compiler before) stating that app_log is being redeclared or something.


Cheers for your help so far, guys.

Ok a linker error !!

i already have it !

it''s possible you forgot to declare some libraries in your project

what''s your compiler ?

what do the error message exactly saying ?

It''s ok guys, I was being thick as pigshit

I was declaring the instance as an extern in the main unit and just plain declaring it in all the other units I wanted to use it.

I should have declared as normal in the main unit and declared it as an extern in all the other units.

Duh

Cheers for your help though.