Having linking classes issue? c++ I have no clue what is up - c++

Question

I have three classes.
first class:
#ifndef C_LINKED_LIST_H
#define C_LINKED_LIST_H
class CLinkedList {
private:
//removed code for brevity
public:
// removed code for brevity
};
#endif
second class:
#ifndef C_SSF_FOLDER_CONTAINER_H
#define C_SSF_FOLDER_CONTAINER_H
#include "C_SSF_Folder.h"
#include "CLinkedList.h"
class C_SSF_Folder_Container {
private:
// removed code for brevity
public:
int Add_Folder(C_SSF_Folder *_pcl_SSF_Folder);
C_SSF_Folder *Get_Folder(int _i_Index);
C_SSF_Folder *Get_Folder(char *_pch_Name);
//^-----errors
};
#endif C_SSF_FOLDER_CONTAINER_H
my third class
#ifndef C_SSF_FOLDER_H
#define C_SSF_FOLDER_H
#include <windows.h>
#include <fstream>
#include "C_SSF_Folder_Container.h"
using namespace std;
class C_SSF_Folder {
public:
private:
C_SSF_Folder_Container cl_SSFFC_Folder_Container;
public:
};
#endif
my third class C_SSF_Folder.
I am including "C_SSF_Folder_Container.h"
and declaring a C_SSF_Folder_Container container.
Before declaring the variable it compiles fine. After I declare it
I get syntax errors in my C_SSF_Folder_Container
Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
Error C2061 syntax error: identifier 'C_SSF_Folder' CSSFileSystem\projects\cssfilesystem\cssfilesystem\c_ssf_folder_container.h 16
Error C2061 syntax error: identifier 'C_SSF_Folder' CSSFileSystem \projects\cssfilesystem\cssfilesystem\c_ssf_folder_container.h 19
As I myself look into it I think there is a problem because my C_SSF_Folder is including C_SSF_Folder_Container.
and C_SSF_Folder_Container is including C_SSF_Folder
but the defines should take care of it? Other than that I have no clue what's the problem.
Everything is typed correctly.

Answer 1

You've got a circular #include -- C_SSF_Folder_Container.h #includes C_SSF_Folder.h and C_SSF_Folder.h #includes C_SSF_Folder_Container.h.
This would cause an infinite regress (and a compiler crash) except that you've got the #ifndef/#define guards at the top of your files (as you should); and because of them, instead what you get is that one of those two .h files can't see the other one, and that's why you get those errors.
The only way to fix the problem is to break the circle by deleting one of the two #includes that comprise it. I suggest deleting the #include "C_SSF_Folder.h" from C_SSF_Folder_Container.h and using a forward declaration (e.g. class C_SSF_Folder; instead.

Answer 2

C_SSF_Folder.h and C_SSD_Folder_Container.h are including each other(Circular Dependency).
When the compiler compiles C_SSF_Folder_Container object, it needs to create a C_SSF_Folder object as its field, however, the compiler needs to know the size of C_SSF_Folder object, so it reaches C_SSF_Folder object and tries to construct it. Here is the problem, when the compiler is constructing C_SSF_Folder object, the object has a C_SSF_Folder_Container object as its field, which is a typical chicken and egg question, both files depends on each other in order to compile.
So the correct way to do it is to use a forward declaration to break the circular dependency(including each other).
In your C_SSF_Folder.h, make a forward declaration of C_SSF_Folder_Container.
#include <windows.h>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;
class C_SSF_Folder_Container;
class C_SSF_Folder {
public:
private:
C_SSF_Folder_Container cl_SSFFC_Folder_Container;
public:
};
#endif
Finally, include C_SSF_Folder_Container.h in your C_SSF_Folder.cpp.
You can also learn more in the following links:
Circular Dependency (Wiki):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_dependency
Forward Declaration by Scott Langham
What are forward declarations in C++?