Visual studio does not recognize char* and wchar_t* when not including windows.h

Question

Compilers tested:

Visual Studio 2010 Professional

Pelles C

------------------------------------------

I have three files like so:

MyString.h

int __stdcall my_strlenA(char*);
int __stdcall my_strlenW(wchar_t*);


#ifdef UNICODE
	#define my_strlen my_strlenW
	#define my_strcpy my_strcpyW
#else	
	#define my_strlen my_strlenA
	#define my_strcpy my_strcpyA
#endif

MyString.c

#include "MyString.h"

/*
 Get string length. 
 @Version: UNICODE
*/
__declspec(naked) int __stdcall my_strlenW(wchar_t * string){
	__asm{
		push	ebp
		mov		ebp,	esp
		push	esi
		xor		ecx,	ecx
		mov		esi,	string
iter:
		lodsw
		cmp		ax,		0
		je		halt
		lea		ecx,	[ecx+1]
		jmp		iter
halt:
		pop		esi
		mov		esp,	ebp
		pop		ebp
		mov		eax,	ecx
		ret		4
	}
}

/*
 Get string length. 
 @Version: ANSI
*/
__declspec(naked) int __stdcall my_strlenA(char * string){
	__asm{
		push	ebp
		mov		ebp,	esp
		push	esi
		xor		ecx,	ecx
		mov		esi,	string
iter:
		lodsb
		cmp		al,		0
		je		halt
		lea		ecx,	[ecx+1]
		jmp		iter
halt:
		pop		esi
		mov		esp,	ebp
		pop		ebp
		mov		eax,	ecx
		ret		4
	}
}

main.c

#include <Windows.h>
#include <tchar.h>

#include "MyString.h"



int __stdcall WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow){

	TCHAR	buffer[] = {L"This is my ubber long string"};
	TCHAR	txt[100] = {0};

	wsprintf(txt,L"string length: %d",my_strlen(buffer));

	MessageBox(0,txt,0,MB_OK);

	return (0);
}

A ton of errors come up sourcing from MySytring.h

So the question is, since when is Visual Studio not aware of  char *  and wchar_t * primitively that I have to include windows.h for the said data types to be "defined" ?

The same errors are also generated by Pelles C.

To solve this I have to include windows.h  in MyString.h 

Why is this ? Since when ?

---

chx101

Answer 1

Hi chx101,

Based on this case relate to Visual C++ General . I will move your case to Visual C++ General for better help. 

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Best regards,

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Ego [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

MegaGigaBytes wrote:

A ton of errors come up sourcing from MySytring.h

Show the first of those errors.

---

Igor Tandetnik