Compiling a C++ .lib with only header files?

Question

I'm compiling a C++ static library and as all the classes are templated, the class definitions and implementations are all in header files. As a result, it seems (under visual studio 2005) that I need to create a .cpp file which includes all the other header files in order for it to compile correctly into the library.

Why is this?

Answer 1

The compiler doesn't compile header files since these are meant to be included into source files. Prior to any compilation taking place the preprocessor takes all the code from any included header files and places that code into the source files where they're included, at the very location they're included. If the compiler should compile the headerfiles as well, you'd for example have multiple definitions on many things.

Example, this is what the preprocessor sees:

[foo.h]
void foo();

--

[mysource.cpp]
#include "foo.h"

int main()
{
   foo();
}

And this is what the compiler sees:

[mysource.cpp]
void foo();

int main()
{
   foo();
}

Answer 2

Even when you will create a .cpp file you still won't receive anything. You need to instantiate templates in order to put them in the library.

Take a look here http://www.parashift.com/c%2B%2B-faq-lite/templates.html#faq-35.13 about how to instantiate templates with concrete types.