visual studio 2010 include file can 'see' but cannot compile

Question

I'm sure there is a really simple solution to this.

I'm trying to include a header file. I have added the include directory. when I include with quotes the new feature in vs2010 now shows me that it can 'see' the file I want to include and the tool tip references it in the correct directory.

however I get a red underscore under the #include indicating there is a problem and the project won't build because it cannot include the file.

I can build by adding the full relative path but this is a bit messy.

so in summary

#include "myfile.h"  FAILS
#include "../../includes/myfile.h" WORKS

any ideas?

What is the absolute path of your file and what are your include directories? — Luchian Grigore
– Luchian Grigore, Commented Oct 15, 2011 at 11:19

Dialecticus · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-15 11:23:04Z

2

You have to add ../../includes in the following field:

Project Properties > C/C++ > General > Additional Include Directories

For more details visit the appropriate MSDN page.

answered Oct 15, 2011 at 11:23

Dialecticus

16.8k7 gold badges47 silver badges108 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Dialecticus Over a year ago

There is not enough information to help you further. Try to create a minimal project that exhibits faulty behavior. After that make this minimal project more and more similar to original project. At one point you will find a problem.

Luchian Grigore · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-15 11:59:30Z

0

If

#include "myfile.h"

fails, but

#include "../../includes/myfile.h"

works, that means you don't have the include directories in your path. Say you have your structure like this:

/project
   /src
      myfile.cpp   -> myfile.h included here
   /include
      /dir1
          myfile.h

You need to add to your include directories ./include/dir1/, not just ./project or ./include.

Using <...> instead of "..." just tells the compiler to first look in the system include directories first, so that wouldn't be of much help. Answers stating this are wrong. Usually, you would use <...> for headers like string or vector and "..." type includes for your own headers.

answered Oct 15, 2011 at 11:59

Luchian Grigore

260k68 gold badges465 silver badges634 bronze badges

1 Comment

ninjasmith Over a year ago

I had added the include dirs.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

visual studio 2010 include file can 'see' but cannot compile

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related