I'm making a Cocos2d game for iphone, and I have my main game mode, Game, which inherits from CCLayer.
I'm trying to make another game mode, MathGame, which inherits from Game, but when I try to compile, I get this error in MathGame.h:
Attempting to use the forward class 'Game' as superclass of 'MathGame'
I get the error even if the implementation and interface of MathGame are empty. And it only happens if I try to include MathGame.h in another file.
Here's the code for the Game class:
// Game.h #import "cocos2d.h" #import <GameKit/GameKit.h> #import "SplashScreenLayer.h" @interface Game : CCLayer // A bunch of stuff @end
The new game type:
// MathGame.h #import "Game.h" @interface MathGame : Game @end
And the main menu that includes both:
// SplashScreen.h #import "cocos2d.h" #import "Game.h" #import "MathGame.h" #import "HowToPlayLayer.h" #import "AboutLayer.h" @interface SplashScreenLayer : CCLayer // A bunch of stuff @end
I can't find anything helpful online. Any ideas?
You simply have an import cycle:
Game imports SplashScreenLayer SplashScreenLayer imports MathGame MathGame imports Game
Your solution:
Leave the import inside the MathGame, and change the other imports to @class.
To sum it up:
// Game.h #import "cocos2d.h" #import <GameKit/GameKit.h> @class SplashScreenLayer; @interface Game : CCLayer // A bunch of stuff @end The new game type: // MathGame.h #import "Game.h" @interface MathGame : Game @end And the main menu that includes both: // SplashScreen.h #import "cocos2d.h" #import "HowToPlayLayer.h" #import "AboutLayer.h" @class Game; @class MathGame; @interface SplashScreenLayer : CCLayer // A bunch of stuff @end
With your question answered above, let me explain a few things I already know from reading about forward declerations and import cycles:
First, go read about them! They are a very important part of Objective-C, and you don't want to miss it!
Secondly, use @class whenever you need that class for private variables or method parameters. Use imports for inheritance and strong properties.
Thirdly, don't forget to #import your forwarded classes in the implementation file!
In my case,I user the xx class and use the @class but not #import the .h file.and the compile complain..