array of pointers to a class in a class

[the4bidn]

I have a issue that compiles with a void pointer in vs90 but fails to compile with g++.

The first class opens and reads binary files parsing the data.

The second class is meant to interface with the first class indexing them by a pointer array to the class.

Class A
{
}

Class B
{
A *index[64][64];
}

Under Visual Studio I could use a void pointer to represent the index, however in Linux I am unable to do so. The above compiles fine also, all header files have guards. "Class B" includes "Class A" and I can create the actual array like ADT index[x][y], but not the pointers.

Compilation errors:
ISO C++ forbids declaration of 'A' with no type.
expected ';' before '*' token.


Any help resolving this issue or suggestions on a better way to do it would be greatly appreciated.

It will always by a 64 by 64 array of files however some files may be missing in which case they are to be discarded so the empty class doesn't consume resources.

[Duthomhas]

Your class declarations must terminate with a semicolon. (All type declarations must terminate with a semicolon.)

Also, you should not be using a void* to reference the items. This tells the compiler to shut up about all other errors you are likely making.

To do references, either #include the first file's header or use a forward reference.

// file A
class A
  {
  };

// file B
// If you want to simply include the first file's header then use the next line
#include "fileA.hpp"

// Otherwise, use a forward reference to the class A with the next line
class A;

class B
  {
  A *index[64][64];
  };

BTW, do you realize how much memory you are using for a 64 by 64 array of references? (It's probably around 16384 bytes...) That is a massive amount. Wouldn't a sparse matrix do better?

Also, how could you possibly be using up to 4096 files at once? The OS might not even permit it.

I think you need to rethink your design.

Hope this helps.

[the4bidn]

SOLVED:

Apparently taking a little break 15 minute break allowed me to notice the A.h including B.h which included A.h but the header guards blocked the redefinition(A got defined after B).

[the4bidn]

Thanks for the reply, it opens reads the file and then closes it. Its for navmesh generation and takes a insane amount of memory to begin with when the triangles are loaded, win32 oses had no issue loading this data. I will look into a sparse matrix route but memory was not a to much of a concern for me(and im not c++ expert). Thanks for your reply.