Header does not see definition

Well I can't compile the following code on header (called COMBTEX.h) (im using GCC):

Code:

---

#ifndef COMBTEX_H
#define COMBTEX_H
#include <limits.h>
#include "lines.h"
#include "fields.h"

/*----------------------- defines y macros -------------------------*/

/* tipo BOOL */
#define TRUE        1
#define FALSE      0
typedef int BOOL;

/*-------------------------- estructuras ---------------------------*/

/* CONFIG: almacena los seteos del programa */
typedef struct
{
    BOOL    verbose;                  // salida de combinacion por pantalla?
    char    inputFile[PATH_MAX];      // nom. archivo de entrada
    char    outputFile[PATH_MAX];      // nom. archivo de salida
    char    dataFile[PATH_MAX];        // nom. archivo de datos
} CONFIG;

/* prototipo de funciones */
void initstruct( CONFIG* , TEXTBUFFER*, FIELDLIST*);

---

´

In the link marked red, the compiler says:

combtex.h:36: error: syntax error before "TEXTBUFFER"

We'll TEXTBUFFER is defined on "lines.h" (it's included properly on the above header). Here it is:

Code:

---

#ifndef LINES_H
#define LINES_H
#define TEXT_ENDMARK            '*'
#define MAX_DIGITS              6
#define MAX_LINE                100    // caracteres maximos de linea
#include "combtex.h"

/* TEXTBUFFERS: estructura que contiene los buffers de texto y estado del mismo
  de los mismos */
typedef struct _textbuf
{
    int numTextLines;                  // numero de lineas de texto fuente
    char* linebuffer[];

}
TEXTBUFFER;

void doInputtext(CONFIG* , TEXTBUFFER*);
BOOL loadtextfile(char*, TEXTBUFFER *);
void loadtextin(TEXTBUFFER* );
void editbuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );
void viewbuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );
void freebuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );

#endif //LINES_H

---

The problem is that in LINES.H i need the definition of CONFIG* for doInputtext function. That is in the first header...

I'm getting a problem on cyclic-header includes?

Thank you very much for your help. :thumb:

Yes, it is cyclic as "lines.h" includes "combtex.h", which includes "lines.h", which includes "combtex.h", etc.

You should forward declare your structures and not include combtex.h in lines.h.

Code:

---

#ifndef LINES_H
#define LINES_H
#define TEXT_ENDMARK            '*'
#define MAX_DIGITS              6
#define MAX_LINE                100    // caracteres maximos de linea

/* TEXTBUFFERS: estructura que contiene los buffers de texto y estado del mismo
  de los mismos */
typedef struct _textbuf
{
    int numTextLines;                  // numero de lineas de texto fuente
    char* linebuffer[];  // not legal C++ or ANSI C (pre C99)

} TEXTBUFFER;

struct CONFIG;  // forward declare

void doInputtext(CONFIG* , TEXTBUFFER*);
BOOL loadtextfile(char*, TEXTBUFFER *);
void loadtextin(TEXTBUFFER* );
void editbuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );
void viewbuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );
void freebuffer(TEXTBUFFER* );

#endif //LINES_H

---

Another thing:

Code:

---

typedef struct _textbuf
{
    int numTextLines;                  // numero de lineas de texto fuente
    char* linebuffer[];   

} TEXTBUFFER;

---

If you want this to be C++ code or ANSI C previous to the C99 specfication, you must get rid of the "char* linebuffer[]", since it is not legal C++ and is not legal ANSI C code as defined by the pre C99 specfication.

(Compile using strict ANSI invoked for gcc).

Regards,

Paul McKenzie

Thank you very much for your response.

Wow, still does not works...

typedef struct
{
int numTextLines; // numero de lineas de texto fuente
char* linebuffer[];

} TEXTBUFFER;

struct CONFIG; // forward

void doInputtext(CONFIG* , TEXTBUFFER*); <--- HERE
int loadtextfile(char*, TEXTBUFFER *);

GCC message is:

lines.h:29: error: syntax error before '*' token

..Are you sure it's possible to use forward declarations in ANSI C?

You should get rid of the char* linebuffer[]; just as Paul said. Try using char **linebuffer or use std; and as for your problem, try using extern keyword or just move that struct to the lines file.

Still getting errors. Maybe I must follow close what includes what...

Solved thanks.