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Problem with enumeration scope and classes

In one file I have an enumeration defined, say

enum Suit { Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, Spades };

in another file, I have something like:

extern enum Suit;
class foo {
public:
foo();
Suit getSuit();
void setSuit(Suit a);
void bar();

private:
Suit _suit;
};

Suit foo::getSuit() { return _suit; }
void foo::setSuit(Suit a) { _suit = a; }

void foo::bar() {
if( this->getSuit() == Diamonds )
printf("Diamond found");
}

this results in compile errors of:
error C2065: 'Diamonds' : undeclared identifier
error C2371: 'Diamonds' : redefinition; different basic types

same thing happens if, instead of this->getSuit(), I use _suit or getSuit(); also, using (enum Suit)Diamonds instead of just Diamonds does not help either.

I tried putting my extern inside the class definition but that just caused different problems. The setSuit and getSuit functions do not give me any problems.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jkr

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snazzy154

ASKER

That compiles, but it seems for me that the if statement never gets executed in my code, even if there is a Diamonds. It will if I replace it with the number 260. (This is just a shortened example, as my actual program contains a lot more code.)

In fact, in my actual code I cannot give any value to my enumeration.

It seems my enumerations start out at 260. Even if I have something like enum Suits { Diamonds = 60000, Hearts, Spades = 92, Clubs = 200 }; -- it seems that the values are still 260, 261, 262, and 263. I found this out by using printf("%d", var).

What could be messing with my enumeration values?

Thanks

novitiate

just my two cents...

Remember enum is a declaration not a definition. extern is used in cases where definition is else where. So in your case, as Jkr has suggested, you need to put your enum declaration in a .h file and include it where ever you need

_novi_

jkr

This should not happen. Could you post the relevant code?

snazzy154

ASKER

I found out why. I'm using Lex and Yacc and basically they defined the variables in my enumeration already. So essentially my enumeration consisted of { 260, 261, 262, 263 }.

Thanks for the help.