run a program with more than one source files in GNU c++ compiler

Question

I am using DEV GNU c++ compiler on windows 7 OS. I need to know how a program with more than one source file can be compiled. here is example,

#FILE1
void f         


        

Answer 1

The technical term for 'multiple files' would be translation units:

g++ file1.cpp file2.cpp -o program

Or you separate compilation and linking

g++ -c file1.cpp -o file1.o
g++ -c file2.cpp -o file2.o

# linking
g++ file1.o file2.o -o program   

But that usually doesn't make sense unless you have a larger project (e.g. with make) and want to reduce build times.

Answer 2

The simplest way is to precise the two files on the command line of gcc:

gcc file1.c file2.c

Answer 3

To preprocess and compile as such:

gcc -c FILE1.c
gcc -c FILE2.c

Then, to link:

gcc -o EXECUTABLE FILE1.obj FILE2.obj

Alternately, you can do both in one step:

gcc -o EXECUTABLE FILE1.c FILE2.c

If it's a C++ program, then replace the gcc by g++ and the .c by .cpp.

It does not interest you, but for the benefit of similar readers who find your question later, FILE1.cpp may be named FILE1.cc or the like, and FILE1.obj may be named FILE1.o, depending on the reader's platform.

It may interest you that, depending on the shell you are using, you might have to write options like -o as /o.