I cannot for the life of me figure out why static int member variables wont' work

I have a public static int as one of my member variables for a class, but when I go to increment it (I can only have 8 instances of this class) the compiler gives me a LNK2001 error.

I have written the code exactly how it is written in a C++ book but for some reason it still will not work;

Code:

---

class Light {
public:
Light();        //DEFAULT CONSTRUCTOR, THIS WILL MAKE THE LIGHT FULLBRIGHT, MEANING COMPLETELY WHITE
Light(color_t*, material_t*, location_t*);        //THIS IS THE CONSTRUCTOR THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ALL OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE LIGHT TO BE SET
void Activatate();
void Deactivate();
short Number;       
static int NumberOfLights;        //FOR NOW WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CREATE ANY MORE THAN 8 LIGHTS UNTIL WE CAN CULL THE REST
private:
        color_t *Color;
        material_t *Material;
        location_t *Location;
       
};

---

That is the class interface file, and the constructor simply increments it. Please help me fix this stupid little problem.

Okay, the class is written as it is in the book.

A static member is 'static' only within the class.

Admittedly, it's me, but I don't see where the constructor increments/decrements 'NumberOfLights'. There's not a single function definition in the class, only declarations.

Sorry.

-Skipper

*slaps self in the forehead* doh, I told you everything you need to know about what's in the implementation files: the constructor increments the static int member variable, it is called **cutting down on crap to post** so in short you are correct you do not see the definitions there, because I didn't post them, because I am afraid SALEM will eat me.

Oh and when I say I wrote it exactly how it was written in the book, I mean I wrote it how the book did it, meaning I declared the type to be a static int, but that code isn't copied from a book. I try to stay away from copying code from a book exactly as it was written. Okay whew, I just had to clear that up.

Code:

---


class Light {
public:
Light();        //DEFAULT CONSTRUCTOR, THIS WILL MAKE THE LIGHT FULLBRIGHT, MEANING COMPLETELY WHITE
Light(color_t*, material_t*, location_t*);        //THIS IS THE CONSTRUCTOR THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ALL OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE LIGHT TO BE SET
void Activatate();
void Deactivate();
short Number;       
static int NumberOfLights;        //FOR NOW WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CREATE ANY MORE THAN 8 LIGHTS UNTIL WE CAN CULL THE REST
private:
        color_t *Color;
        material_t *Material;
        location_t *Location;
       
};

int Light::NumberOfLights = 0; //..needs initialization...

---

No, Salem can kill you, but not eat you. That's illegal!

Also, stop slapping yourself. If we all did that, we'd throw the Earth out of its rotational axis! :D

-Skipper

Okay thanks seb