create include file using CMake

Question

I have a folder containing hpp and cpp files. I need to create a header file that includes all hpp files in the said folder:

#pragma once
#include "test_1.hpp"
#include "test_2.hpp"
#include "test_3.hpp"

can CMake do that?

Note:I am not going to put 'my' research work on your shoulder. I just need to know if such thing is possible, and possibly a link to where I can read from. My initial googling didn't show anything useful. thank you

Andrzej Pronobis · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-28 07:37:04Z

8

You can use configure_file to fill a variable inside a template file. Create a template file containing the outline of the desired file and a placeholder for your include statements, e.g.:

list.hpp.in

#pragma once
@include_statements@

Then, in your CMakeLists.txt, you can fill the placeholder @include_statements@ with a list of files wrapped with #include statements.

project(test)
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8)

# Get list of some *.hpp files in folder include 
file(GLOB include_files include/*.hpp)

# Convert the list of files into #includes
foreach(include_file ${include_files})
  set(include_statements "${include_statements}#include \"${include_file}\"\n")
endforeach()

# Fill the template    
configure_file(list.hpp.in list.hpp)

edited May 28, 2015 at 7:37

answered May 28, 2015 at 7:25

Andrzej Pronobis

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4 Comments

ypx Over a year ago

a common practice is to add the .in extension to the template that cmake uses. In your case configure_file(list.hpp.in list.hpp) It makes it easier to relate the input with the output.

ypx Over a year ago

Keep in mind that this solution requires running CMake to reflect any new files added to the include directory.

rahman Over a year ago

@Andrzej thanks, it works. include_files in CMakeLists.txt` includes absolute path. Is there any way to use the relative path?

Andrzej Pronobis Over a year ago

Sure, check out the RELATIVE option of the file command cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.0/command/file.html

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