Thread: enum - incomplete type is not allowed

Hi,

I have an enum like:

Code:

typedef enum mac_type_e	{	
	STATIC_MAC, 
	BLACKLIST_MAC	
} mac_type_t;

and I want to use this type in a structure that's declared like:

Code:

typedef struct lan_mac_s {
	UINT16 lanmacid;
	enum mac_type_t lan_mac_type_pp;		// user mac type per port, 20 mac_type_t array, 0 = static, 1 = blacklisted

now, the compiler tells me:

Code:

incomplete type is not allowed
  	enum mac_type_t lan_mac_type_pp;		// user mac type per port, 20 mac_type_t array, 0 = static, 1 = blacklisted 	
  	                ^

but funny enough, if I remove the preceeding "enum" keyword, it compiles fine. But since I'm wrioting C and not C++, I really should put it there, I'm surprised why it wouldn't let me, aany ideas?

Code:

enum mac_type_e

This is one type.

Code:

mac_type_t;

This is another name for the same type.

You don't need to declare "mac_type_t" as an "enum" since that information is already included by virtue of the typedef.

After all, the main reason someone might typedef an enum (or a struct) is so they don't need to precede their declarations with "enum" (or "struct").

yep, got it, thanks!