An class structure issue

Hi, this has been annoying me for a few hours, I can't figure out this problem. First, here is the code that the error is concerned with one file that I will copy and paste here:

file 1: piece.h

Code:

---

#ifndef PIECE_H
#define PIECE_H

#include "board.h"

class Piece
{
    public:
        Piece();
        Piece(int pieceType, int pieceColor, HDC theHdc, Board theB);
        Piece(Piece& origVal);
        Piece& operator=( Piece & origVal);

        Board theBoard;
        int ycoord[4], xcoord[4];
        int pieceColor, pieceType;
        int currentOrient;
        HDC hdc;
};
#endif

---

The error is on the two bolded lines:
on the first bolded line, I get the following two errors:
type specifier omitted for parameter
and
parse error before `)'

And the error on the second bolded line is:
syntax error before `;'

I'm assuming both of these errors have to do with defining a Board object. I have even included the board.h on the top of this file as you can see.

board.h is not getting any errors. Can someone tell me what could be going on? I'm confused. Thank you in advance for the help!

Nimit

Well you are using the type HDC without defining it. You must include windows.h to use that type of identifier. As far as the Board class goes, try prototyping the class prior to defining it, so something like this:

Code:

---

#ifndef PIECE_H
#define PIECE_H

class Board; // class prototype

class Piece
{
  // blah
  // blah

  Board theBoard;
};

#endif /* PIECE_H */

---

Thanks, the prototyping worked out well!

Nimit

Quote:

---

Originally posted by MrWizard
As far as the Board class goes, try prototyping the class prior to defining it, so something like this:

Code:

---

#ifndef PIECE_H
#define PIECE_H

class Board; // class prototype

class Piece
{
  // blah
  // blah

  Board theBoard;
};

#endif /* PIECE_H */

---

---

Actually, that really shouldn't fix the board because the piece class holds an actual instance of the board class -- not a pointer or reference, so it actually needs to know the size of the class not just the declaration. In this case you'd actually have to define the class prior (which is probably being done in board.h which is already included).

Also, you should surround your board.h include in an ifndef/endif directive. And try to avoid having parameters to functions having the same names as the classes variables:

Piece(int pieceType, int pieceColor, HDC theHdc, Board theB);

to

Piece(int aPieceType, int aPieceColor, HDC theHdc, Board theB);

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Polymorphic OOP
Actually, that really shouldn't fix the board because the piece class holds an actual instance of the board class -- not a pointer or reference

---

Hey, thats true, but when I said that it worked out, I had also changed the variable to a pointer to Board, not an actual board object, so it did work out well :) thanks for all your help!

Nimit