Help with using header files

Hi, I have a header file I found on this website I want to use to simplify using color.

Code:

---

/*
*  Copyright (c) 2002
*
*  Made by Petter Strandmark ("Sang-drax")
*  http://www.strandmark.com
*  Needed for functionality : <windows.h>
*
*/

/*
*  USAGE:
*
*  cout << RED << "This is red." << BLUE << "\nThis is blue.";
*
*
*/

#ifndef COLOR_PETTER_H
#define COLOR_PETTER_H


//Retain ANSI/ISO Compability
#ifdef WIN32
    #include <windows.h>
#endif

#include <iostream>


namespace Petter
{
   
    namespace
    {
        class Color
        {
            friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream,const Color& c);

        public:
            Color(unsigned short c): color(c) {}
            static bool IsAvailabe()
            {
                #ifdef WIN32
                    return true;
                #else
                    return false;
                #endif 
            }
        //private:
            unsigned short color;
        };

        std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream,const Color& c)
        {
            stream.flush();
            #ifdef WIN32
                SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE),c.color);
            #endif
            stream.flush();

            return stream;
        }

        #ifdef WIN32
            const Color NORMAL  = FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_BLUE;
            const Color WHITE  = FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_BLUE|FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
            const Color RED    = FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
            const Color DKRED    = FOREGROUND_RED;
            const Color BLUE    = FOREGROUND_BLUE|FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
            const Color DKBLUE    = FOREGROUND_BLUE|FOREGROUND_GREEN;
            const Color GREEN  = FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
            const Color DKGREEN  = FOREGROUND_GREEN;
            const Color YELLOW  = FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_GREEN|FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
            const Color BROWN  = FOREGROUND_RED|FOREGROUND_GREEN;
        #else
            const Color NORMAL  = 0;
            const Color WHITE  = 0;
            const Color RED    = 0;
            const Color DKRED    = 0;
            const Color BLUE    = 0;
            const Color DKBLUE    = 0;
            const Color GREEN  = 0;
            const Color DKGREEN  = 0;
            const Color YELLOW  = 0;
            const Color BROWN  = 0;
        #endif
    }

}
#endif //ifndef

---

I'm using Dev-C++ 4.9.9.2, my question is, how do I go about turning this code into a header file? And how to I instalize it in my program?

OK, I have it saved as a .h file in my include folder, to clarify that.

I'm using just as it shows and I get an error.

The compiler thinks that RED is a variable, which is what I was afraid of.

Any idea how to get this header to work?

In your main code, at the top, add something like:

Code:

---

#include "colors.h"
// then something like
Petter::Color myColor;
myColor.whatever

---

I did see an extra namespace, I think, within the Petter namespace

Well I don't see what's hard about changing console text color. Just call this before outputting the text:

Code:

---

SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE),FOREGROUND_GREEN);
//FOREGROUND_GREEN is just ONE of the many choices

---

For more options and more details on this function go here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...tattribute.asp. That seems much easier, and quicker, than importing that header. That header is basically doing the exact same thing.