Shared Variables Question.

Hi, I am trying to make a program that uses lots of variables. I would like each variable to be accessible to every function used in the program, and also available to programs that use preprocessor directives to include it.

Just a sample piece of code will do thanks,

Regards,
mintsmike:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mintsmike

Hi, I am trying to make a program that uses lots of variables. I would like each variable to be accessible to every function used in the program, and also available to programs that use preprocessor directives to include it.

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Sounds like a bad idea, i.e., overuse of global variables.

Perhaps you should state what is the real problem that you are trying to solve.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mintsmike

Hi, I am trying to make a program that uses lots of variables. I would like each variable to be accessible to every function used in the program, and also available to programs that use preprocessor directives to include it.

Just a sample piece of code will do thanks,

Regards,
mintsmike:)

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maybe you better consider the career of horror stories writer?

Job of the programmer is difficult without need to read such a terrible code

I just want to know how to define a global variable?

It's bad programming practice to do that, but if you really want to do it and suffer any consequences thereof, you can 1) make one include file and use it in your program, or 2) you can list each variable type and initialize it above the main() declaration. This makes every variable above the main() as a "global" variable. As I said, it's not good programming practice to do this. For many variables, it is not necessary that they have a "life span" during the entire time the program is open.

Don't do that! Using global variables is very bad programming style, because sooner or later (usually about the same point as you start having more than one source-file using the same variable) it gets troublesome to figure out which function(s) affect what variable(s).

Now, having said that, the way you do it, if you have a very good reason to share one or two global variables between different modules is this:

Code:

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// globals.h

extern int myGlobalVar1;
extern double myGlobalVar2;

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Code:

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// somefile.c
#include "global.h"

...
code using myGlobalVar1 & 2
...

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Code:

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// main.c
#include "globals.h"

int myGlobalVar1 = 42;
double myGlobalVar2 = 3.1415926;

---

--
Mats

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mintsmike

I just want to know how to define a global variable?

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With careful deliberation. Frankly, I am not convinced that the knowledge is safe in your hands, though it is quite easy, and also quite easy to find out by searching this forum and/or the Web.

Thank you for your replies and yes, I have taken on the advice you have given me :)

I will now try and limit my use of global variables.

Regards,
mintsmike

And another one saved from The Dark Side. Good job guys!