C++ Redefinition Header Files (winsock2.h)

Question

How do I prevent from including header files twice? The problem is I'm including the in MyClass.h and then I'm including MyClass.h in many files, so it includes multiple times and redefinition error occurs. How to prevent?

I'm using #pragma once instead of include guards, and I guess that's fine.

MyClass.h:

// MyClass.h
#pragma once

#include <winsock2.h>

class MyClass
{

// methods
public:
 MyClass(unsigned short port);
 virtual ~MyClass(void);
};

EDIT: Few of the errors I'm getting

c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(91) : warning C4005: 'AF_IPX' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(460) : see previous definition of 'AF_IPX'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(124) : warning C4005: 'AF_MAX' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(479) : see previous definition of 'AF_MAX'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(163) : warning C4005: 'SO_DONTLINGER' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(402) : see previous definition of 'SO_DONTLINGER'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(206) : error C2011: 'sockaddr' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(485) : see declaration of 'sockaddr'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(384) : error C2143: syntax error : missing '}' before 'constant'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(384) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'constant'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(384) : error C2059: syntax error : 'constant'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(437) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '}'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(437) : error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(437) : error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(518) : warning C4005: 'IN_CLASSA' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(287) : see previous definition of 'IN_CLASSA'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(524) : warning C4005: 'IN_CLASSB' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(293) : see previous definition of 'IN_CLASSB'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(530) : warning C4005: 'IN_CLASSC' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(299) : see previous definition of 'IN_CLASSC'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(541) : warning C4005: 'INADDR_ANY' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(304) : see previous definition of 'INADDR_ANY'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(543) : warning C4005: 'INADDR_BROADCAST' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(306) : see previous definition of 'INADDR_BROADCAST'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\ws2def.h(577) : error C2011: 'sockaddr_in' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(312) : see declaration of 'sockaddr_in'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(132) : error C2011: 'fd_set' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(68) : see declaration of 'fd_set'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(167) : warning C4005: 'FD_SET' : macro redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(102) : see previous definition of 'FD_SET'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(176) : error C2011: 'timeval' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(111) : see declaration of 'timeval'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(232) : error C2011: 'hostent' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(167) : see declaration of 'hostent'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(245) : error C2011: 'netent' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(180) : see declaration of 'netent'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(252) : error C2011: 'servent' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(187) : see declaration of 'servent'
c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock2.h(264) : error C2011: 'protoent' : 'struct' type redefinition
        c:\program files\microsoft sdks\windows\v6.0a\include\winsock.h(199) : see declaration of 'protoent'

Answer 1

As others suggested, the problem is when windows.h is included before WinSock2.h. Because windows.h includes winsock.h. You can not use both WinSock2.h and winsock.h.

Solutions:

• Include WinSock2.h before windows.h. In the case of precompiled headers, you should solve it there. In the case of simple project, it is easy. However in big projects (especially when writing portable code, without precompiled headers) it can be very hard, because when your header with WinSock2.h is included, windows.h can be already included from some other header/implementation file.

• Define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN before windows.h or project wide. But it will exclude many other stuff you may need and you should include it by your own.

• Define _WINSOCKAPI_ before windows.h or project wide. But when you include WinSock2.h you get macro redefinition warning.

• Use windows.h instead of WinSock2.h when winsock.h is enough for your project (in most cases it is). This will probably result in longer compilation time but solves any errors/warnings.

Answer 2

I checked the recursive includes, I spotted the header files which include (recursively) some #include "windows.h" and "#include "Winsock.h"and write a#include "Winsock2.h". in this files, i added#include "Winsock2.h"` as the first include.

Just a matter of patience, look at includes one by one and establish this order, first #include "Winsock2.h" then #include "windows.h"

Answer 3

This problem is caused when including <windows.h> before <winsock2.h>. Try arrange your include list that <windows.h> is included after <winsock2.h> or define _WINSOCKAPI_ first:

#define _WINSOCKAPI_    // stops windows.h including winsock.h
#include <windows.h>
// ...
#include "MyClass.h"    // Which includes <winsock2.h>

See also this.

Answer 4

I wouldn't use just FILENAME_H but

#ifndef FILENAME_H_AF06570D_B36E_4B82_8F97_C456AF4A38FD
#define FILENAME_H_AF06570D_B36E_4B82_8F97_C456AF4A38FD

//code stuff
#endif // FILENAME_H_AF06570D_B36E_4B82_8F97_C456AF4A38FD

I have always used a postfix guid. I came across a very poor code base some years ago that had different header files with the same file name and include guard. The files in question had defined a class with the same name. If only namespaces were used. Some projects compiled some didn't. Using unique guards was a part of the solution in differentiating headers and their contents.

On Windows with Visual Studio use guidgen.exe, on Linux uuidgen -t.

Answer 5

I found this link windows.h and winsock2.h which has an alternative that worked great for me:

#define _WINSOCKAPI_    // stops windows.h including winsock.h
#include <windows.h>
#include <winsock2.h>

I was having trouble finding where the issue occurred but by adding that #define I was able to build without figuring it out.

Answer 6

In my project (I use VS 2008 SP1) works next solution:

Header file:

//myclass.h
#pragma once
#define _WINSOCKAPI_
#include <windows.h>

Cpp class:

//myclass.cpp
#include "Util.h"
#include "winsock2class.h"
#pragma comment(lib, "Ws2_32.lib")

where #include "winsock2class.h" mean class which implemented winsock2.h :

//winsock2class.h
#include <winsock2.h>
#include <windows.h>
#pragma comment(lib, "Ws2_32.lib")