C2143, C2653; Weird class errors

[JBudOner]

Hey Codeguru, I've been having some weird problems on my code when compiling; it seems like my program isn't able to see the Item struct I created on either of my attempts I wrote below:


----------========------------
--------- ATTEMPT #1 ----------
----------========------------


ItemDictionary.h
-----
#pragma once
#include "Item.h"

struct ItemDictionary {
Item* operator[](unsigned int i); // <-- C2143: syntax error: missing ';' before '*' ; C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed
static Item* Get(unsigned int i); // <-- C2143, C4430
...
};


Item.h
------
#pragma once

struct Item {
...
};


----------========------------
--------- ATTEMPT #2 ----------
----------========------------

ItemDictionary.h
-----
#pragma once
#include "Item.h"
#include "Item.cpp" // NOTE: Included Item.cpp here

struct ItemDictionary {
...
};


Item.h
------
#pragma once

struct Item {
...
};

Item.cpp
------
#pragma once
#include "Item.h"

Item::Item( ... ) // <-- C2653: 'Item': is not a class or namespace name
{ // <-- C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed
this->appearance = appearance; // <-- C2673: 'Item': global functions do not have 'this' pointers

...
}


----------------------------

Does anybody know whats going on? Why is my Item class invisible right now? If you have any tips or suggestions, I'd really appreciate it =] Thanks.

[Deepak_Sharma]

hello,

this is called circular dependency. either break this by defining a new header. which both classes inherits or make one of them as forward declared.

regards
d

[JBudOner]

I'm not sure I understand..How would this be circular dependency if both Item.h and Item.cpp don't use ItemDictionary ? I tried it out anyways, and forward declared the Item class in ItemDictionary.h; but the only problem now is,

ItemDictionary.h
-----------

...

struct ItemDictionary {
...

static List<Item*> items;
};


List.h
-----------

template<class T>
struct List
{
...

T data; // <-- C2079: 'List<T>:ata' uses undefined struct 'Item'
};


Even if I forward declare the Item struct on the top of List.h, it still comes up with the same error.