Question

I currently have a project with 3 files.

One DBheader.h header file that includes:

• Class declarations (with their smaller member function definitions)

A DBdefinitions.cpp file with:

• Larger member function definitions for the classes in DBheader.h

and finally a DBmain.cpp file that contains:

• Main code
• Some large (non-memeber) functions that use the classes defined in DBheader.h

I would preferably like to move these functions somewhere to make my DBmain.cpp file less cluttered. Should/could I move them to the DBdefinition.cpp file or do I need to create a new separate .cpp file for non-member functions?

Here’s a rough of what my code looks like if the above is unclear.

//DBheader.h

//libraries..

class course{
//member data..

void printinfo();

}

–

//DBdefinitions.cpp

#include "DBheader.h"
void course::printinfo(){/*do stuff*/}

–

//DBmain.cpp

#include "DBheader.h"
typedef map<int,course> record;
void fileinput(record &map);
int main(){
//stuff
}
void fileinput(record &map){
//lots of code
}

Answer 1

You should organize free functions that are part of the public interface in a similar fashion you used for the class definition: a header with the declaration and an implementation file with the implementations.

If they are particular to a specific translation unit, keep them in that implementation file.

All free functions should be declared inside a namespace (named for the public ones, anonymous for “private” free functions).