Small Steps VIII — Build with Several Files

Set a File Aside

Exclude a file from the build without deleting it.

One starting point

All included .cpp files become one program. An old practice file with another small_main introduces a second starting point.

In your Greeting project, use New Source File… to create practice.cpp and put the following code in it.

void small_main()
{
    print("Hello, project!");
}

Run Project reports multiple starting functions. Right-click practice.cpp and choose Exclude from Project. It turns gray and italic with (Excluded) beside it. You can now run the Greeting program.

Excluding is different from deleting

The excluded file stays on disk and can still be opened. Its tab shows [Excluded] too. Include in Project restores its usual appearance. Restoring it also restores the conflicting starting point.

The IDE saves exclusions in small.project. You do not need to write that file yourself. Exclusions remain when you reopen the project.

Use a separate project for a different program. Excluding a file that defines a needed function can cause a linker error because the function cannot be found.

Exercise — Check it yourself

Change the practice file's message and save. Exclude it, close the project, and reopen it. Check that both the file and its exclusion remain.

void small_main()
{
    print("Hello, project!");
}

Hint

Use the menus described above. The solution below is for the one-file practice. Apply the same change to the file with that job in your project.

void small_main()
{
    print("Practice saved!");
}