Thread: WHAT redefinition?

I have a program with a class in it (how interesting). I have the definitions of this class in a .h file, with the actual finction code in a .cpp file. The .cpp file #includes the .h file. Then, I included the cpp file in my main cpp file (with main in it). The result is twenty errors about redefinition. What can this be?
If someone would like the code, I'll post it when prompted. It's a bit lengthy if it isn't necessary to post it.

don't #include source files

and make sure you have #ifndef guards on your headers so they aren't included multiple times

Might you give an example? I was never fully educated in header commands.

okay:

Code:

#ifndef _THIS_HEADER_NAME_  // if not defined...
#define _THIS_HEADER_NAME_ // define it

/* ... all the code of the header ... */

#endif

So, if you've included this header before, this will prevent the code from being accidentally included again.

This may not be your problem though.

Code:

#ifndef CLASS_H
#define CLASS_H

class Example {
    public:
        Example();
        ~Example();
    private:
        int fred;
};

#endif

edit: rmullen beat me

Ouch, I'm really in a tangle.

I have:

-class in balance.h
-class functions in account.cpp, which includes balance.h
-balance.cpp (main file) what should this include? I'm thinking account.cpp, but you said no

Code:

Compiling...
Account.cpp
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(27) : error C2556: 'int __thiscall ACCNT::GetLog(void)' : overloaded function differs only by return type from 'char *__thiscall ACCNT::GetLog(void)'
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(70) : see declaration of 'GetLog'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(27) : error C2040: 'GetLog' : 'int (void)' differs in levels of indirection from 'char *(void)'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(34) : error C2556: 'int __thiscall ACCNT::deposit(double,char *,bool)' : overloaded function differs only by return type from 'double __thiscall ACCNT::deposit(double,char *,boo
l)'
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(54) : see declaration of 'deposit'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(34) : error C2371: 'deposit' : redefinition; different basic types
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(54) : see declaration of 'deposit'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(105) : error C2556: 'int __thiscall ACCNT::withdraw(double,const char *,bool)' : overloaded function differs only by return type from 'double __thiscall ACCNT::withdraw(double,c
onst char *,bool)'
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(56) : see declaration of 'withdraw'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(105) : error C2371: 'withdraw' : redefinition; different basic types
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(56) : see declaration of 'withdraw'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(209) : error C2556: 'int __thiscall ACCNT::GetName(void)' : overloaded function differs only by return type from 'char *__thiscall ACCNT::GetName(void)'
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(60) : see declaration of 'GetName'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(209) : error C2040: 'GetName' : 'int (void)' differs in levels of indirection from 'char *(void)'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(214) : error C2556: 'int __thiscall ACCNT::GetBalance(void)' : overloaded function differs only by return type from 'double __thiscall ACCNT::GetBalance(void)'
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(62) : see declaration of 'GetBalance'
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\Account.cpp(214) : error C2371: 'GetBalance' : redefinition; different basic types
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\MyProjects\Balance\balance.h(62) : see declaration of 'GetBalance'
Balance.cpp
Error executing cl.exe.

Balance.exe - 10 error(s), 0 warning(s)

and back at square 1. I hate to run you in circles, but this is really peeving me. (my god if I could only spell)

The general idea is:

prototypes/definitions in header
"code" in source

so account.cpp should include something like acount.h, and balance.cpp include balance.h.

Here: Iv'e consolidated and organized the code as you suggested, but I'm still having big, ugly yet simple linking issues. I'll include the source for anyone who wants to help further. Thank you all for your help already.