How to use a function in three different .cpp files

Question

I have three .cpp files these are named MeshLoader.cpp, DynamicXMesh.cpp and StaticXMesh.cpp

I have a function in the MeshLoader.cpp file named FindTexturePath and I want to call and use it in the DynamicXMesh.cpp and StaticXMesh.cpp files.

I have included MeshLoader.cpp(#include "MeshLoader.cpp") file in boot XMesh files and of course get an error that says function is already defined...

Also I tryed to use pragma once and ifndef ...:

//This is "MeshLoader.cpp"
pragma once

#ifndef MLOAD
#define MLOAD
  char* FindTexturePath( char* TexturePath ,LPSTR FileNameToCombine){
      ...
      ...
      ...
  }
#endif

/////

//This is StaticXMesh.cpp
#include "MeshLoader.cpp"
...
...
...
this->StatXMeshTexturePath = FindTexturePath(StatXMeshTexturePath,d3dxMaterials[i].pTextureFilename);
...
...

///// And same call for DynamicXMesh.cpp

I hope I explained myself clear enough... Thank you for givin your time...

I would recommend you reading a book about C++. Any will do. — Vlad
– Vlad, Commented Jun 14, 2011 at 22:32
You got some good answers but I feel like it's always important to know why as well. Check out this overview of compiling and linking. It might be a bit obtuse at first but it really is useful for C programming. — Zilchonum
– Zilchonum, Commented Jun 14, 2011 at 22:38
Thank you for that documentation it realy looks like usefull for me I'll read it for sure. — Evren Ozturk
– Evren Ozturk, Commented Jun 15, 2011 at 7:52

Node · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-14 22:26:40Z

8

You need to create MeshLoader.h, and put something like this in it

#ifndef INCLUDED_MESH_LOADER_H
#define INCLUDED_MESH_LOADER_H

char* FindTexturePath( char* TexturePath ,LPSTR FileNameToCombine);

#endif

And include that in your other cpp files. Each of the cpp files just need the declaration of FindTexturePath to compile. So whenever you need to make a function in a cpp public to other cpp files, create a .h file that has the function declarations in.

answered Jun 14, 2011 at 22:26

Node

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Comments

Mark Ransom · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-14 22:32:22Z

2

The preferred method is to put the function declaration in a .h file, and let the linker combine all the .cpp files into one executable.

If you insist on doing it in a nonstandard way, you can make what you have work by making the function inline or static.

answered Jun 14, 2011 at 22:32

Mark Ransom

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Comments

Heisenbug · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-14 22:27:30Z

1

put the function prototype in an header file (MeshLoader.h) and include that file everywhere you need to use that function.

answered Jun 14, 2011 at 22:27

Heisenbug

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Yann Ramin · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-14 22:33:36Z

1

As other users have stated, you want to place declarations into the header (.h or .hpp) file.

At times you may wish to have a definition in the header file as well. At this point, you make a static function definition: static char* FindTexturePath(...) { .. }

answered Jun 14, 2011 at 22:33

Yann Ramin

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