How do I avoid name collision with macros defined in Windows header files?

Question

I have some C++ code that includes a method called CreateDirectory(). Previously the code only used STL and Boost, but I recently had to include <windows.h> so I could look-up CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA.

Now, this code:

filesystem.CreateDirectory(p->Pathname()); // Actually create it... 

No longer compiles:

error C2039: 'CreateDirectoryA' : is not a member of ... 

Which corresponds to this macro in winbase.h:

#ifdef UNICODE #define CreateDirectory  CreateDirectoryW #else #define CreateDirectory  CreateDirectoryA #endif // !UNICODE 

The pre-processor is redefining my method call. Is there any possible way to avoid this naming collision? Or do I have to rename my CreateDirectory() method?

Answer 1

You will be better off if you just rename your CreateDirectory method. If you need to use windows APIs, fighting with Windows.h is a losing battle.

Incidently, if you were consistent in including windows.h, this will still be compiling. (although you might have problems in other places).