Thread: How to build a C project?

I always wrote C programs limited to a single .C file including some standard .H; now I need to write a larger project, including several .C files, plus some .H written by me; I read several tutorials, bu I can't find anything about "linkage" more than "you need to link files together". Ok, but, HOW?

I have to extend an existing project consisting of several .c and .h files; I wrote, let's say, test.c and test.h . Then I modified an existing function.c file, which now refers to test.h for the structure used by test.c to read and interpret a configuration file.

I wrote a separate main2.c file which starts the function inside test.c which reads the file, and then calls the new-added functions in function.c which process the data.

I am using Dev-C++, and if I edit single files and compile main2.c all work fine; but if I create a project which includes all files (new and old ones), compilation files: compiler complains about missing links to files, or double-links once I add the missing one! So, I don't understand where I should add proper #include statement. Or maybe it's just a mis-configuration of the program, or of the project?

What I actually need is the original project to be able to read the configuration file, through my additions, before doing anything else.

I know it sounds a bit confusing... that's why I'm here asking for help!

Well what error messages do you get when you have a project containing
main2.c test.c function.c

For example, if main2.c and test.c contain a main() for example, then one of them has to be renamed when you put both files into the same project.

I don't know anything about Dev-C++ but you should be able to create a makefile and then use that. Look through your docs.

Originally Posted by Salem

Well what error messages do you get when you have a project containing
main2.c test.c function.c

For example, if main2.c and test.c contain a main() for example, then one of them has to be renamed when you put both files into the same project.

For example, a constant defined in main2.c is not visible in any other of the files! How can I make a constant global?!? I thought a constant was ALWAYS global!

If I compile main2-c out of a project, ALL files compile fine; but if I add all files into a project, when I try compiling main.c the compiler complains about test.c not finding declaration for a global constant defined in main.c !
But main.c starts with:

#include "test.c"
#include "function.c"
#include "test.h"


Actually my program is the only one where I've ever seen .C files included... so there should be something I don't understand here...

Let's summarize:

test.h holds the structure to read test.txt configuration file;
test.c holds the procedure to read the conf file;
function.c holds functions which use parameters read from test.txt;
main2.c should call functions in function.c and display the values they return.

So, how should I organize my sources into a project?? Which #include statement should I use, and WHERE?

Don't include .c files inside other .c files.
Add them to the project.

> For example, a constant defined in main2.c is not visible in any other of the files!
Move it to a shared header file then.

Thaks, it works now!