While following the book C++ For Dummies, I have three files in my CodeBlocks project, main.cpp, Pen.h, and Pen.cpp. They look like this:
main.cpp:
#include <iostream>
#include "Pen.h"
//#include "Pen.cpp"
using namespace std;
int main()
{
Pen MyPen = Pen();
MyPen.test();
}
Pen.h:
#ifndef PEN_H_INCLUDED
#define PEN_H_INCLUDED
//#include "Pen.cpp" // Uncommenting this gives a different error
using namespace std;
class Pen
{
public:
// attributes omitted
// PROTOTYPES:
// other functions omitted
void test();
};
#endif // PEN_H_INCLUDED
Pen.cpp:
#include <iostream>
#include "Pen.h"
using namespace std;
//other function definitions omitted
void Pen::test()
{
cout << "Test successful." << endl;
}
When I run the code as listed above, I get an "undefined reference to `Pen::test()'" error. To fix this, I changed the #include statements at the top of main.cpp to:
#include <iostream>
//#include "Pen.h"
#include "Pen.cpp"
This works as intended and correctly prints out "Test successful."
My question is this: what in the world is the point of putting a function prototype in a header file if I have to import the .cpp file later on anyways?
EDIT: It turns out this was a problem with not knowing how to use Code::Blocks rather than with the C++ language.
Assuming you're using gcc, you can compile and link in one step by supplying multiple .cpp files via the command line.
g++ Pen.cpp main.cpp
clang should be similar.
clang++ Pen.cpp main.cpp
An #include should never reference a .cpp file. At all. There's no good reason to do it. Include your headers and then supply the names of all .cpp files when you compile. If your project gets big and you have too many .cpp files to reasonably list, then it's time to break out a makefile or similar.
In the main.cpp include the header file:
#include "Pen.h"
The Pen.h file it's ok.
You need to add the Pen.cpp file to the project tree.
Go to Project -> Add files... and add Pen.cpp
I have created simple win32 console application:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
#include "conio.h"
using namespace std;
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
cout << "Hello World" << endl;
int num;
cin >> num;
return 0;
}
It compiles fine.
Then I'm trying to add library. I Have dll lib and .h files.
I have included my.h file:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "my.h"
#include <iostream>
#include "conio.h"
"my.h" contains lines:
#ifndef __AFXWIN_H__
#error include 'stdafx.h' before including this file for PCH
#endif
After compile I got error:
include 'stdafx.h' before including this file for PCH
But I have already included 'stdafx.h'. I have tested with both options of Use/Not use precompile headers - the same result. Where is the problem?
Your my.h is using MFC (__AFXWIN_H__ is defined by MFC headers) but your console program is not. You must use MFC in your program or rewrite your library to not use MFC.
Do not include external headers or stdafx.h in your headers.
Include all external headers in stdafx.h.
Include stdafx.h from every cpp file in your project.
This will build faster too as the external headers are processed once via PCH.
//head.h//
extern int sum(int,int);
//head.cpp//
#include "head.h"
#include "stdafx.h"
int sum(int x, int y)
{
return (x+y);
}
//mainfn.cpp//
#include "head.h"
#include "stdafx.h"
#include string
#include iostream
#include stdio.h
using std::string;
using std::cout;
using namespace System;
int main()
{
int x=10,y=2;
printf("value: %d",sum(x,y));
Console::ReadLine();
return 0;
}
While buliding in Visual studio 2005, this vc++ project is giving following error:
error C3861: 'sum': identifier not found.
Can anybody help me out with this?
You need to place the inclusion of head.h after stdafx.h. When precompiled headers are enabled the compiler will ignore the contents of all includes that occur prior to (in this case) the inclusion of stdafx.h .
Either remove stdafx.h from the project, and turn of precompiled headers.. or try moving head.h to be included after stdafx.h instead of before.
I try to precompile Boost headers.
First experiment - with std:: headers. I create file std.hpp:
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>
// And other std:: headers
After that:
g++ std.hpp
Copy std.hpp.gch in /usr/include/c++/4.4.5
And write test program:
#include <std.hpp>
int main() {
std::cout << "Hello, precompiled world!" << std::endl;
return 0;
}
Works fine.
Now try precompile Boost headers.
I create boost.hpp file:
#include <boost/spirit/include/qi.hpp>
#include <boost/spirit/include/karma.hpp>
After that:
g++ boost.hpp
Copy boost.hpp.gch in /usr/local/include/boost
And write test program:
#include <boost/boost.hpp>
int main() {
// Some code...
return 0;
}
But got error:
main.cpp:2:33: error: /usr/local/include/boost/boost.hpp: No such file or directory.
Try, for experiment:
#include </usr/local/include/boost/boost.hpp>
int main() {
// Some code...
return 0;
}
Same error.
Try copy boost.hpp.gch in another place - same error.
If I put file boost.hpp in same place - works fine (so there is no problems with path):
ls /usr/local/include/boost | grep boost
boost.hpp
boost.hpp.gch
So compiler use boost.hpp header. But why compiler don't see precompiled boost.hpp.gch??
This might be a gcc bug as documented in http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=46110
I am working on the 'driver' part of my programing assignment and i keep getting this absurd error:
error C2065: 'cout' : undeclared identifier
I have even tried using the std::cout but I get another error that says:
IntelliSense: namespace "std" has no member "cout"
When I have declared using namespace std, included iostream and I even tried to use ostream
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main () {
cout << "hey" << endl;
return 0;
}
I'm using Visual Studio 2010 and running Windows 7. All of the .h files have using namespace std and include iostream and ostream.
In Visual Studio you must #include "stdafx.h" and be the first include of the cpp file. For instance:
These will not work.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main () {
cout << "hey" << endl;
return 0;
}
#include <iostream>
#include "stdafx.h"
using namespace std;
int main () {
cout << "hey" << endl;
return 0;
}
This will do.
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main () {
cout << "hey" << endl;
return 0;
}
Here is a great answer on what the stdafx.h header does.
write this code, it works perfectly..
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout<<"Hello World!";
return 0;
}
I had same problem on Visual Studio C++ 2010. It's easy to fix. Above the main() function just replace the standard include lines with this below but with the pound symbol in front of the includes.
# include "stdafx.h"
# include <iostream>
using namespace std;
The include "stdafx.h" is ok
But you can't use cout unless you have included using namespace std
If you have not included namespace std you have to write std::cout instead of simple cout
If the only file you include is iostream and it still says undefined, then maybe iostream doesn't contain what it's supposed to. Is it possible that you have an empty file coincidentally named "iostream" in your project?
I have seen that if you use
#include <iostream.h>
then you will get the problem.
If you use
#include <iostream>
(notice - without the .h)
then you will not get the problem you mentioned.
If you started a project requiring the #include "stdafx.h" line, put it first.
I've seen similar things happen when I was using the .c file extension with C++ code. Other than that, I'd have to agree with everyone about a buggy installation. Does it work if you try to compile the project with an earlier release of VS? Try VC++ Express 2008. Its free on msdn.
Such a silly solution in my case:
// Example a
#include <iostream>
#include "stdafx.h"
The above was odered as per example a, when I changed it to resemble example b below...
// Example b
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
My code compiled like a charm. Try it, guaranteed to work.
The code below compiles and runs properly for me using gcc. Try copy/pasting this and see if it works.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int bob (int a) { cout << "hey" << endl; return 0; };
int main () {
int a = 1;
bob(a);
return 0;
}
I have VS2010, Beta 1 and Beta 2 (one on my work machine and one at home), and I've used std plenty without issues. Try typing:
std::
And see if Intellisense gives you anything. If it gives you the usual stuff (abort, abs, acos, etc.), except for cout, well then, that is quite a puzzler. Definitely look into your C++ headers in that case.
Beyond that, I would just add to make sure you're running a regular, empty project (not CLR, where Intellisense is crippled), and that you've actually attempted to build the project at least once. As I mentioned in a comment, VS2010 parses files once you've added an include; it could be that something stuck the parser and it didn't "find" cout right away. (In which case, try restarting VS maybe?)
Take the code
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
out of your .cpp file, create a header file and put this in the .h file. Then add
#include "whatever your header file is named.h"
at the top of your .cpp code. Then run it again.
I had the same issue when starting a ms c++ 2010 project from scratch - I removed all of the header files generated by ms and but used:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
cout << "hey" << endl;
return 0;
}
I had to include stdafx.h as it caused an error not having it in.
Try it, it will work. I checked it in Windows XP, Visual Studio 2010 Express.
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void main( )
{
int i = 0;
cout << "Enter a number: ";
cin >> i;
}
before you begin this program get rid of all the code and do a simple hello world inside of main. Only include iostream and using namespace std;.
Little by little add to it to find your issue.
cout << "hi" << endl;
Are you sure it's compiling as C++? Check your file name (it should end in .cpp). Check your project settings.
There's simply nothing wrong with your program, and cout is in namespace std. Your installation of VS 2010 Beta 2 is defective, and I don't think it's just your installation.
I don't think VS 2010 is ready for C++ yet. The standard "Hello, World" program didn't work on Beta 1. I just tried creating a test Win32 console application, and the generated test.cpp file didn't have a main() function.
I've got a really, really bad feeling about VS 2010.
When you created your project, you did not set 'use precompiled headers' correctly. Change it in properties->C/C++->precompiled headers.
In Visual studio use all your header filer below "stdafx.h".
Just use printf!
Include stdio.h in your stdafx.h header file for printf.
Include the std library by inserting the following line at the top of your code:
using namespace std;
is normally stored in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include folder. First check if it is still there. Then choose Tools + Options, Projects and Solutions, VC++ Directories, choose "Include files" in the "Show Directories for" combobox and double-check that $(VCInstallDir)include is on top of the list.
I ran across this error after just having installed vs 2010 and just trying to get a nearly identical program to work.
I've done vanilla C coding on unix-style boxes before, decided I'd play with this a bit myself.
The first program I tried was:
#include "stdafx.h"
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
cout << "Hello World!";
return 0;
}
The big thing to notice here... if you've EVER done any C coding,
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
Looks weird. it should be:
int main( int argc, char ** argv )
In my case I just changed the program to:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << "Hello world from VS 2010!\n";
return 0;
}
And it worked fine.
Note: Use CTRL + F5 so that the console window sticks around so you can see the results.
I came here because I had the same problem, but when I did #include "stdafx.h" it said it did not find that file.
What did the trick for me was: #include <algorithm>.
I use Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.
These are the things that you can use then, incl. 'count': Link
Had this problem, when header files declared "using namespace std;", seems to be confusing for GNU compiler;
anyway is bad style!
Solution was providing std::cout ... in headers and moving "using namespace std" to the implementation file.
In VS2017, stdafx.h seems to be replaced by pch.h see this article,
so use:
#include "pch.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
cout << "Enter 2 numbers:" << endl;
It was the compiler - I'm now using Eclipse Galileo and the program works like a wonder