Selective #include's

Anyone know if there is a way to include only part of a header file, and part of the c++ file? Say for example I want 1 class structure and definitions from a header file/c++ file, but I don't want the other stuff in that header file. Any way to get just that one thing, without getting the rest of it?

If I get all of it, it makes me include a lot of other files I don't want, because some of the other classes/functions require them. But the one class I want does not.

Nope, if you include a header, you get everything in it whether you want it or not. If all of the extra stuff bloats up your program a lot then you should complain to the maker of the library so they can fix it in further updates.

I understand what you're saying. It doesn't feel right to include a whole library just for one function or class if it includes so much other code. Unfortunately, there is no way that I know of to include only part of a file. Your profile says you're a student, so if you're just writing programs for a class, I wouldn't worry about includes. If time/space constrictions are truly paramount, though, you could create a file and put only what you need in that file. It'd be a good deal of copying and pasting, rather time consuming. Truthfully, I would not worry about it too much. Unless you're coding a professional grade program, it's very unlikely that there will be any noticeable difference.

If you want you can change the header to only include what you want:

Code:

---

#ifndef EXCLUDE_STUFF

  //Stuff

#endif

#ifndef EXCLUDE_THINGS

  /Things

#endif

#ifndef EXCLUDE_YADA

  //Yada

#endif

---

Then in your program:

Code:

---

#define EXCLUDE_THINGS

...

---

If you don't want Things to be in your program.

Quote:

---

If you want you can change the header to only include what you want:

---

But be real careful when you change headers that you don't make, you never know what kind of coupling is used and conditionally compiling out parts could easily make something you want fail.