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Stupid newbie question re: #include

Hi Guys,

Got a real dumb question for you, but it is someting I for the life of me cannot work out...

Where do I put the #include directives for any new classes that I add? I have been putting them in StdAfx.h as it seems to want me to, but for some reason, the classes I have been creating with the class wizard are not being recognised in other parts of the project. e.g:

// StdAfx.h
#include "firstDlg.h"
#include "secondDlg.h"
#include "NewClass.h"

// Application.h
class CApplicationApp : public CWinApp
{
    // other initialisation...

    CNewClass* m_pNewClass;
    // the above line fails
}

Does anyone have any ideas?

Jedimaster

by putting the #include in StdAfx.h you are basically giving all of you classes access to those included classes. if you look, MFC automatically includes StdAfx.h in every .cpp file you create. so... if you include the class in StdAfx.h and the class you are working in has StdAfx.h included in it then the class you are working in can see the other class. Confused yet? ;0) lets try this...

StdAfx.h file*******************************

#include "class1.h"

********************************************

file1.h*************************************

#include "StdAfx.h"

class1 can be accessed.

*******************************************

file2.h*************************************

(StdAfx.h not included)
(class1.h not included)

cannot access class1.

********************************************

file3.h**************************************

#include "class1.h"

class1 can be accessed.

*********************************************

hope that clears things up...

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

1cand01t

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1cand01t

make a correction
instead of >> class NewClass;

class CNewClass; // the classname which u want to access

Zoppo

BTW, the second method 1cand01t suggested is called 'forwarding' and may save
a lot of compile time in larger projects because you don't have to include "NewClass.h"
into any other files which don't use CNewClass but need to include "Application.h"

AlexNek

2 negative_entropy
In most cases you must NOT insert your include directive in "StdAfx.h". Try to follow next rules for minimize build time.

1. If you need to use new class in member function(s) insert include directive in *.cpp

2. If you need to use new class in class declaration (*.h) as pointer use forward class declaration in *.h (class CMyClass;) and include directive in *.cpp

3. Otherwise use construction like this:
#ifndef _USEFULL_H_
#define _USEFULL_H_

#include "MyClass.h"
...

#endif //_USEFULL_H_

4. If you use external library or use declaration which not changed oft AND used in the whole project then place include directive in "StdAfx.h".