Problem splitting program into different files

Hi I am splitting my program into different files and some structures from one file use things declared in another file and vice versa. This meens that whichever file I include first I'm stuffed and I get a error about having an "incomplete type". So I was wondering if there is any way around this problem? Thanks

Put the structure definitions in a header file, like so:

Code:

---

#ifndef HEADER_H
#define HEADER_H 1

struct thestruct {
    int data;
    // ...
};

#endif

---

And in your source files:

Code:

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#include "header.h"

---

Put the structures and function prototypes in a shared header file.

Hmm interesting, so in your programs do you have a header just for structure definitions and you put them all in there or do you just put ones which cause a problem in there or what? Thanks

Quote:

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in your programs do you have a header just for structure definitions and you put them all in there or do you just put ones which cause a problem in there or what?

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You can put your structures in different files, and whichever ones you like. Presumably you give the compiler enough information to avoid errors.

I have one more problem, here is an example:

/* main.c */
#include "main.h"
#include "graphics.h"

/* main.h */
int lives;
extern int lives;

/* graphics.c */
printf("%d", lives);

/* graphics.h */
..

And I get an error in graphics.c that lives doesn't exist. How should I have done that?

Quote:

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extern int lives;

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That should be in graphics, not main. It says to the compiler, "don't worry that this is undeclared - it's declared somewhere else". But here, you say that right after declaring it, and then it remains undeclared elsewhere.

Oh, and you should read the sticky at the top of the forum about posting code - it'll teach you how to use code tags to properly format code when you post it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kzar

/* main.h */
int lives;
extern int lives;

/* graphics.c */
printf("%d", lives);

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You need to read up on the keyword extern. But to use the variable lives in the graphics.c file, you must declare extern int lives in the graphics.c file.

The extern keywords means that the compiler should look for definition of the declared variable elsewhere.

I got my program to compile now, I was really confused before but now I think I get it. Thanks for the help everyone.