Question

In C++ what does the error mean “class does not name a type”?

Answer 1

As I have said most probably you try to use a type before declaration.
The code will make things much clear, but I guess you have a code like this :

class someclass
{
public:
......
otherclass other_object;
......
>
};    

class otherclass
{
public:
......
someclass some_object;
......
};