C++ professor requiring 3 files for headers?

Whenever I wanted to use header files I would just make a .cpp and .h file. However the professor I'm taking wants two .cpp files and a header (one cpp file having the same name name as the header, the other main).

What is the purpose of the .cpp file with the same name and how do I structure it?

My code if you need it, doubt you will, thanks!!!!!

Also would like to add that without you guys life in my C classes would have been hell. You helped me through a lot when I was learning this for fun (I still am, just not on my own anymore :P) and extremely grateful for that. I'll try to beat you guys to posts but you guys are fast!

main.cpp

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#include "TicTacToe.h"

int main()
{
    int turns = 0;
        TicTacToe game;

        game.outputGrid();


    for(;;)
    {
        do
        {
            cout << "Player 1's turn (X)" << endl;
            do
            {
                game.getRow();
                game.checkRow();
            }while(game.checkRowOK() == false);

            do
            {
                game.getColumn();
                game.checkColumn();
            }while(game.checkColumnOK() == false);

            game.checkTile();
        }while(game.isEmpty() == false);

        game.fillTile('X');
        cout << endl;
        game.outputGrid();

        game.checkWin();
        if(game.isWin() == true)
        {
            cout << endl << "Player 1 (X) Wins!" << endl;
            break;
        }

        game.checkSpaceLeft();

        if (game.isSpaceLeft() == false)
        {
            cout << endl << "No more spaces left, it's a tie!" << endl;
            break;
        }


        turns++;

        do
        {
            cout << "Player 2's turn (O)" << endl;
            do
            {
                game.getRow();
                game.checkRow();
            }while(game.checkRowOK() == false);

            do
            {
                game.getColumn();
                game.checkColumn();
            }while(game.checkColumnOK() == false);

            game.checkTile();
        }while(game.isEmpty() == false);

        game.fillTile('O');
        cout << endl;
        game.outputGrid();

        game.checkWin();
        if(game.isWin() == true)
        {
            cout << endl << "Player 2 (O) Wins!" << endl;
            break;
        }
        turns++;

    }

        return 0;
}

---

.h

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class TicTacToe
{
        private:
                char Grid[3][3];
                int inputrow;
                int inputcolumn;
                bool RowOK;
                bool ColumnOK;
                bool win;
                bool empty;
        char winningPlayer;
        bool spaceLeft;

        public:
                TicTacToe();
                void outputGrid();

                void getRow();
                void checkRow();
                bool checkRowOK();

        void getColumn();
                void checkColumn();
                bool checkColumnOK();

        void checkTile();
                bool isEmpty();

                void fillTile(char);

                void checkWin();

                bool isWin();

                void checkSpaceLeft();
                bool isSpaceLeft();

};

TicTacToe::TicTacToe()
{
        for(int a = 0; a<3; a++)
                for(int b = 0; b<3; b++)
                        Grid[a][b] = ' '; // space = empty, 1 = X, 2 = O

    win = false;
    spaceLeft = true;
}

void TicTacToe::outputGrid()
{
        cout << "  3  4  5" << endl;
        cout  << " " << (char)201 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)209 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)209 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)187 << endl;
        cout  << "0" << (char)186 << Grid[0][0] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[0][1] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[0][2] << " " << (char)186 << endl;
        cout  << " " << (char)199 << (char)196  << (char)196 << (char)197 << (char)196  << (char)196 << (char)197  << (char)196  << (char)196  << (char)182 << endl;
        cout  << "1" << (char)186 << Grid[1][0] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[1][1] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[1][2] << " " << (char)186 << endl;
        cout  << " " << (char)199 << (char)196  << (char)196  << (char)197  << (char)196  << (char)196 << (char)197  << (char)196  << (char)196  << (char)182 << endl;
        cout  << "2" << (char)186 << Grid[2][0] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[2][1] << " " << (char)179 << Grid[2][2] << " " << (char)186 << endl;
        cout  << " " << (char)200 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)207 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)207 << (char)205 << (char)205 << (char)188 <<"\n\n";
}

void TicTacToe::getRow()
{
        cout << "Input Row (0-2): ";
        cin >> inputrow;
}

void TicTacToe::checkRow()
{
        if (inputrow < 0 || inputrow > 2)
        {
                cout << "Error. Please enter a number between 0 and 2." << endl;
                RowOK = false;
        }

        else
                RowOK = true;
}

bool TicTacToe::checkRowOK()
{
    return RowOK;
}


void TicTacToe::getColumn()
{
        cout << "Input Column (3-5): ";
        cin >> inputcolumn;
}

void TicTacToe::checkColumn()
{
        if (inputcolumn < 3 || inputcolumn > 5)
        {
                cout << "Error. Please enter a number between 3 and 5." << endl;
                ColumnOK = false;
        }

        else
                ColumnOK = true;
}

bool TicTacToe::checkColumnOK()
{
    return ColumnOK;
}

void TicTacToe::checkTile()
{
    if(Grid[inputrow][inputcolumn-3] == ' ')
        empty = true;

    else
    {
        cout << "Tile is already filled, please try again." << endl;
        empty = false;
    }

}

bool TicTacToe::isEmpty()
{
    return empty;
}

void TicTacToe::fillTile(char player)
{
    Grid[inputrow][inputcolumn-3] = player;
}

void TicTacToe::checkWin()
{
    if(Grid[0][0] != ' ' && Grid[0][0] == Grid[0][1] && Grid[0][0] == Grid[0][2] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[1][0] != ' ' && Grid[1][0] == Grid[1][1] && Grid[1][0] == Grid[1][2] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[2][0] != ' ' && Grid[2][0] == Grid[2][1] && Grid[2][0] == Grid[2][2] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[0][0] != ' ' && Grid[0][0] == Grid[1][0] && Grid[0][0] == Grid[2][0] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[0][1] != ' ' && Grid[0][1] == Grid[1][1] && Grid[0][1] == Grid[2][1] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[0][2] != ' ' && Grid[0][2] == Grid[1][2] && Grid[0][2] == Grid[2][2] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[0][0] != ' ' && Grid[0][0] == Grid[1][1] && Grid[0][0] == Grid[2][2] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

    if(Grid[0][2] != ' ' && Grid[0][2] == Grid[1][1] && Grid[0][2] == Grid[2][0] )
    {
        win = true;
    }

}

bool TicTacToe::isWin()
{
    return win;
}

void TicTacToe::checkSpaceLeft()
{
    int emptySpaces = 0;
    for (int a = 0; a<3; a++)
    for (int b = 0; b<3; b++)
    {
        if (Grid[a][b] == ' ')
        {
            emptySpaces++;
        }
    }

    if (emptySpaces == 0)
        spaceLeft = false;

}
bool TicTacToe::isSpaceLeft()
{
    return spaceLeft;
}

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JonathanS

Whenever I wanted to use header files I would just make a .cpp and .h file. However the professor I'm taking wants two .cpp files and a header (one cpp file having the same name name as the header, the other main).

What is the purpose of the .cpp file with the same name and how do I structure it?

---

A sensible approach is to define those functions declared in the .h in the corresponding .cpp file. Then, in main.cpp, you include the header and use the functions in the main function. In this way, it would become possible to write a different program by creating a main2.cpp file that defines another main function that does things a little differently, yet includes the same header.

By the way, don't do this:

Code:

---

using namespace std;
#include "TicTacToe.h"

---

The using directive should come after the header inclusion, otherwise it affects the included code. Also, don't place using directives at file scope in header files. You should fully qualify the names instead.

Your .h file should just have the class definition:

Code:

---

// TicTacToe.h

#ifndef TICTACTOE_H
#define TICTACTOE_H

class TicTacToe
{
    // ...
};

#endif

---

The .cpp file should have the function definitions and should include the .h file.

Code:

---

// TicTacToe.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include "TicTacToe.h"
using namespace std;

TicTacToe::TicTacToe()
{
  //...
}

etc.

---

You can compile it like this:

gcc main.cpp TicTacToe.cpp

Well TicTacToe.cpp would be as follows:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include "TicTacToe.h"
// Then everything from line 43 onwards in your current TicTacToe.h file

---

Also, since the .h file no longer has any implementation, you can remove these two lines.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

It is common practice to use include guards in all header files, say

Code:

---

#ifndef TICTACTOE_H_INCLUDED
#define TICTACTOE_H_INCLUDED

class TicTacToe
{
        private:
                char Grid[3][3];
                int inputrow;
                int inputcolumn;
                bool RowOK;
                bool ColumnOK;
                bool win;
                bool empty;
        char winningPlayer;
        bool spaceLeft;

        public:
                TicTacToe();
                void outputGrid();

                void getRow();
                void checkRow();
                bool checkRowOK();

        void getColumn();
                void checkColumn();
                bool checkColumnOK();

        void checkTile();
                bool isEmpty();

                void fillTile(char);

                void checkWin();

                bool isWin();

                void checkSpaceLeft();
                bool isSpaceLeft();

};

#endif

---

Finally, add TicTacToe.cpp to the list of project source files (alongside main.cpp)

Thanks, problem solved :)