error C2065: 'cout' : undeclared identifier

Question

I am working on the \'driver\' part of my programing assignment and i keep getting this absurd error:

error C2065: \'cout\' : undeclared identifier

Answer 1

If you started a project requiring the #include "stdafx.h" line, put it first.

Answer 2

Just use printf!

Include stdio.h in your stdafx.h header file for printf.

Answer 3

When you created your project, you did not set 'use precompiled headers' correctly. Change it in properties->C/C++->precompiled headers.

Answer 4

I have VS2010, Beta 1 and Beta 2 (one on my work machine and one at home), and I've used std plenty without issues. Try typing:

std::

And see if Intellisense gives you anything. If it gives you the usual stuff (abort, abs, acos, etc.), except for cout, well then, that is quite a puzzler. Definitely look into your C++ headers in that case.

Beyond that, I would just add to make sure you're running a regular, empty project (not CLR, where Intellisense is crippled), and that you've actually attempted to build the project at least once. As I mentioned in a comment, VS2010 parses files once you've added an include; it could be that something stuck the parser and it didn't "find" cout right away. (In which case, try restarting VS maybe?)

Answer 5

before you begin this program get rid of all the code and do a simple hello world inside of main. Only include iostream and using namespace std;. Little by little add to it to find your issue.

cout << "hi" << endl;

Answer 6

Such a silly solution in my case:

// Example a
#include <iostream>    
#include "stdafx.h"

The above was odered as per example a, when I changed it to resemble example b below...

// Example b
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>  

My code compiled like a charm. Try it, guaranteed to work.