Question

Sometimes with a complex header structure it happens some header is included, but it is hard to tell where from.

Is there some tool (depedency viewer?) or a method how to find the “inclusion stack” (which source / which header / which header / …) is including one particular header file?

If the header file is included multiple times, finding first inclusion is sufficient, finding all inclusions is a welcome bonus.

Answer 1

Someone has posted about it but I can’t find this answer.
So, In VS, go to your project properties. Choose Configuration Properties / C/C++ / Advanced / Show Includes and set “yes”.

then compile you cpp file. It looks like this:
cpp file:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    return 0;
}

In the output window after compiling you will see:

1>------ Build started: Project: stlport_project, Configuration: Release Win32 ------
1>Compiling...
1>stlport_project.cpp
1>Note: including file: D:\src\hrs_rt_059.00\HRS\modules\src\libs\src\external\stlport\5.1.7\stdio.h
1>Note: including file:  D:\src\hrs_rt_059.00\HRS\modules\src\libs\src\external\stlport\5.1.7\stl/_prolog.h
1>Note: including file:   D:\src\hrs_rt_059.00\HRS\modules\src\libs\src\external\stlport\5.1.7\stl/config/features.h

and so on

EDIT: reference to the same question Displaying the #include hierarchy for a C++ file in Visual Studio