Question

Hey guys I’m having trouble setting up a header file the way I need it to be. To simplify my question here’s an example:

#ifndef MYHEADER_H
#define MYHEADER_H    

class Parent
{
    Child mykid; //a kid of mine
    void dosomething(void);
};

class Child
{
        Parent * mydad; //pointer back to my dad
        void dosomething(void);
};    

#endif // MYHEADER_H

I’m basicly needing to use one class inside of another class before the compiler even knows about it. Is there a way to tell the compiler about my classes before I define there insides?

Answer 1

This:

class Parent;
class Child
{
        Parent * mydad; //pointer back to my dad
        void dosomething(void);
};    
class Parent
{
    Child mykid; //a kid of mine
    void dosomething(void);
};

Suggestion: move them in separate headers, forward-declare Parent in Child.h and #include "Child.h" in Parent.h.

Parent needs a full definition of Child to work, Child only needs a declaration.

I also suggest you stop using raw pointers.