What is the relationship between multiple header files and classes? - c++

Question

I have a noob question here.
I'm getting my head around the C++ structure and syntax and I've hit a bit of a wall.
I know I am missing something from my concept. So first a little code to help describe the situation.
Control.h
#pragma once
#ifndef CONTROL_H
#define CONTROL_H
class Control
{
public:
Control();
~Control();
private:
public:
};
#endif /*CONTROL_H*/
Control.cpp
#include "Control.h"
#include "Hello.h"
Hello helloObj;
Control::Control()
{
}
Control::~Control()
{
}
int main()
{
int a = helloObj.HelloWorld();
return 0;
}
Hello.h
#pragma once
#ifndef HELLO_H
#define HELLO_H
class Hello
{
public:
Hello();
~Hello();
private:
public:
int HelloWorld(void);
};
#endif /*HELLO_H*/
Hello.cpp
#include "Hello.h"
Hello::Hello()
{
}
Hello::~Hello()
{
}
int HelloWorld()
{
return 5;
}
I try and compile control.cpp with g++ on OSX 10.7 and get
Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
"Hello::Hello()", referenced from:
__static_initialization_and_destruction_0(int, int)in cccZHWtd.o
"Hello::~Hello()", referenced from:
___tcf_1 in cccZHWtd.o
"Hello::HelloWorld()", referenced from:
_main in cccZHWtd.o
ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture x86_64
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
Is it the compiler, my code or my concept of whats going on?
Am I not instantiating something correctly?
Any links describing this in more detail would be appreciated.
Ultimately I want to be able to run a function in another class and return the result...normal OO, keeping your program modular stuff....

Answer 1

The errors you are getting are Linking errors not compilation errors.
The linker is not able to find definitions of the said functions & hence it reports the errors. It seems You have not included the Hello.cpp file containing the function definitions in your project.
Make sure Hello.cpp is included in your project and is a part of your project or
If you are using command line for compilation and linking make sure you have specified Hello.cpp in the file names on the command line.

Answer 2

Most of the issue is me not being familiar as I should be with g++ (Thanks Als).
There were are few syntax issues as well (Thanks Brain).
Here is the corrected (albiet slightly bloated for an overview of stucture) code and g++ command
Control.h
#pragma once
#ifndef CONTROL_H
#define CONTROL_H
class CONTROL
{
private:
//nothing defined yet...
public:
Control(); //default constructor
~Control(); //default destructor
};
#endif /*CONTROL_H*/
Control.cpp
#include "Hello.h"
#include "Control.h"
Hello helloTest; //instantiates the Hello Object
Control::Control()
{
}
Control::~Control()
{
}
int main()
{
helloTest.HelloWorld();
return 0;
}
Hello.h
#pragma once
#ifndef HELLO_H
#define HELLO_H
class Hello
{
private:
//nothing defined yet
public:
Hello(); //default constructor
~Hello(); //default destructor
void HelloWorld();
};
#endif /*HELLO_H*/
Hello.cpp
#include "Hello.h"
#include <iostream> //so we can use 'cout'
using namespace std;
Hello::Hello()
{
}
Hello::~Hello()
{
}
void Hello::HelloWorld()
{
std::cout << "Hello lovelies!\n"; //The magic word.
}
Then we run g++ like so
g++ -o Hello ./Control.cpp ./Hello.cpp
g++ [option] [output file name] [input files]

Answer 3

First of all:
public:
Hello();
~Hello();
private:
public:
is pointless, a class defaults to private, and there is no need to make it
public twice nor do I know if you can do that furthermore if you have no private members private should not be in there (not trying to be mean just some advice :-) )
Now to answer the question (with a guess DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT 100% FAMILIAR WITH GCC):
This is a linker error, it may be there because
the compiler can not find the definition of
HelloWorld(void);.
Let me explain:
In your header file you wrote:
int HelloWorld(void);
However in your .cpp you write:
int HelloWorld()
{
return 5;
}
The function's (or in this case method because it is inside a class)
arguments need to be exactly the same in the header and source, you
can not even change the names (or at least you cant with VC++ which is
what I use; I have little experience with gcc) so this may be resolvable
by typing
int HelloWorld(void)
{
return 5;
}
Next (DISCLAIMER I AM NOT 100% familiar with the pre-proccsor):
You also use the #pragma once pre-proccsor tag, I dont use it but
I believe that means you can only include a file once and you have included Hello.h and Control.h twice, like I said I am no expert in the pre-proccsor but you commented out
HELLO_H
and
CONTROL_H