Linking .h files to libraries

Hey,
I'm getting a little frustrated with libraries. 2 things:

- How do I link a library (*.lib type) to a header file?

- In the header file, do I need to put function and class prototypes if I put them in the files in the library? Can I?

Thanks if you can help.

If you need a specific compiler, it can be either Borland Turbo C++ 3.0 for DOS, or 4.5 for Windows. I can do either one.

Thanks,
Sean Mackrory.
[email protected]

I'm not sure if this is different for the Borland products but in MSVC you don't need a header file to compile a library(you don't need to prototype the functions), but you need to declare any functions in this library before they are used in a project that uses the library. So it's a good idea to create one with the library that can be used with it.

You'd be better off using assembler I think to create your library, but I've done it using MSVC in an oddball manner :P. Keep in mind that any special headers that you use to create a lib in c might not work if you use your lib with another compiler.

extern "C" datatype somefunction(parameter list)
{
function body
return datatype
}

compile it to an object file. Use your compiler's library manager (TLIB) to create the library name. Use your linker to link your program source code and add your library.

/* mylib.cpp */

extern "C" int drawScreen(void)
{
// do something here
return 0;
}

compile here to an object file. Then use TLIB c:>tlib mylib.obj

/* myprogram.cpp */

extern "C" int drawScreen(void); // prototype

int main()
{
drawScreen();
return 0;
}

compile to object file or if you have an option to add the library in using your IDE use that. c:>tlink myprogram.obj + mylib.lib I think I did it like that, but it's been a while and I used lib and link of VC. At any rate the method worked.