possible circular referencing? - c++

Question

Maybe it's because I've been staring at this for 5 hours straight and I'm just reading over the obvious solution, but Xcode states that my vector of objects (that is declared in a header file) is undeclared in one .cpp file; however, my other .cpp file can access the vector, so I'm not sure what the problem is. Maybe my header files are out of place, or I'm unintentionally "circular referencing"?? Suggestions please?
publications.h
#ifndef PUBLICATIONS_H
#define PUBLICATIONS_H
#include "std_lib_facilities.h"
class Publication {
private:
string
publication_title,
publication_author,
publication_year,
publication_genre,
publication_media,
publication_target_age,
publication_ISBN;
bool currently_checked_out;
public:
Publication(string title, string author, string year, string genre, string media, string target_age, string ISBN, bool checked_out) {
publication_title = title;
publication_author = author;
publication_year = year;
publication_genre = genre;
publication_media = media;
publication_target_age = target_age;
publication_ISBN = ISBN;
currently_checked_out = checked_out;
}
Publication(){};
};
#endif /* PUBLICATIONS_H */
library.h
#ifndef LIBRARY_H
#define LIBRARY_H
#include "std_lib_facilities.h"
class Publication;
class Library {
private:
vector<Publication> lb;
public:
Library(){};
void documentation();
void list_all_publications();
void new_publication(string title, string author, string year, string genre, string media, string target_age, string ISBN, bool currently_checked_out);
};
#endif /* LIBRARY_H */
patron.h
#ifndef PATRON_H
#define PATRON_H
#include "std_lib_facilities.h"
class Publication;
class Patron {
private:
string
customer_name,
customer_telephone;
public:
void check_out_publication(string publication_requested);
void return_publication(string check_in_publication_name);
void check_out();
bool is_checked_out();
Patron(){};
};
#endif /* PATRON_H */
library.cpp (works perfectly fine, can access vector in library.h)
#include "library.h"
#include "patron.h"
#include "publications.h"
#include "std_lib_facilities.h"
Patron p;
void Library::documentation() {
cout << "\n-----Create a new publication----\n";
cout << "You will enter all the necessary info for a new publication (title, author, year, genre, media, target age, and ISBN).\n";
cout << "\n----List all Publications-----\n";
cout << "List all publications that have been entered (in this current session).\n";
cout << "\n---Check out Publication----\n";
cout << "You will enter your name and telephone number and the publication will be checked out.\n";
cout << "\n-----Return Publication------\n";
cout << "A previously checked out publication will be marked as returned.\n";
}
void Library::new_publication(string title, string author, string year, string genre, string media, string target_age, string ISBN, bool checked_out) {
lb.push_back(Publication(title, author, year, genre, media, target_age, ISBN, checked_out));
}
void Library::list_all_publications() {
for (int i = 0; i < lb.size(); i++) {
cout << "Title: " << "\tChecked Out: " << p.is_checked_out() << endl;
}
}
patron.cpp (problematic file, cannot access vector in library.h)
#include "publications.h"
#include "library.h"
#include "patron.h"
#include "std_lib_facilities.h"
void Patron::check_out_publication(string publication_requested) {
// check to make sure publication isn't already checked out.
for (int i = 0; i < lb.size(); i++) {
if ((publication_requested == lb[i].publication_title) && lb[i].currently_checked_out) {
cout << "Sorry, this publication is currently checked out." << endl;
} else if ((publication_requested == lb[i].publication_title) && !(lb[i].currently_checked_out)) {
cout << "Enter your name: ";
getline(cin, customer_name);
cout << "Enter your telephone number (no dashes/no spaces): ";
cin >> customer_telephone;
} else {
continue;
}
}
}
void Patron::return_publication(string check_in) {
for (int i = 0; i < lb.size(); i++) {
if ((check_in == lb[i].publication_title) && lb[i].currently_checked_out) {
// marked as no longer checked out.
lb[i].currently_checked_out = false;
}
}
}
bool Patron::is_checked_out() {
return currently_checked_out;
}
void Patron::check_out() {
currently_checked_out = true;
}
Error in patron.cpp
USE OF UNDECLARED IDENTIFIER "lb"

Answer 1

lb is a private member of the Library class. You can access it in your library.cpp file because you are using it within a Library member function. Whereas in the Patron class you're directly accessing it. But the compiler sees it as just another variable, which you haven't declared. Likely you need to add an accessor to Library.