header files namesspaces in C++

[luvocean1]

Hi guys. I am still learning C++ using Visual Studio 2005. would someone be kind enough to give me some advise?

I am trying to basically write a GUI (for a serial camera Interface). There is a textBox. Here is my understanding of a program.
files involved:

mainForm.h [This is where all GUI stuff is, including declaration of textBox1]
fileio.h
fileio.cpp [basically in these files i declare open file close file etc.

my question is: inside mainForm.h I have all the declaration of textBox1, menu items etc... I want to be able to access these variables from fileio.cpp file.

for example I want to have:

void generateComPortList(void)
{
	textBox1->Text += "testing" + Environment::NewLine;
}

so basically I want to use write "testing" inside the textBox1 that is placed in the GUI (mainForm.h) - mostly generated by msdn2005 visual studio.

I get the following errors:

1>Compiling...
1>fileio.cpp
1>.\fileio.cpp(78) : error C2065: 'textBox1' : undeclared identifier
1>.\fileio.cpp(78) : error C2227: left of '->Text' must point to class/struct/union/generic type
1>        type is ''unknown-type''

basically I think I dont understand how variables from mainForm.h can be made accessible from fileio.cpp file.

any help? I know I am lacking basic knowledge here about program structures. I hope someone can help me out a bit.

[luvocean1]

I have tried writing:

camera::mainForm::textBox1->Text += "testing" + Environment::NewLine;

but still i get:

1>Compiling...
1>fileio.cpp
1>.\fileio.cpp(78) : error C2227: left of '->Text' must point to class/struct/union/generic type

compilation error

[Elysia]

First, you must include mainForm.h inside fileio.cpp.
If you still can't get it to work, then I must suggest that you read basics about classes and objects.
Btw, this is C++/CLI, not C++. It is important to understand the difference.

[luvocean1]

First, you must include mainForm.h inside fileio.cpp.
If you still can't get it to work, then I must suggest that you read basics about classes and objects.
Btw, this is C++/CLI, not C++. It is important to understand the difference.

i tried including mainForm.h from fileio.cpp it makes no difference.
hhm.. I think i know the basics but still figure out why this error comes up.

whats C++/CLI as opposed to C++?

[Elysia]

C++/CLI is Microsoft's own version of C++ tied to the dotNet framework and have nothing to do with standard C++ that's governed by the C++ standards committee.