How to control the #define in a library? I mean...

Development Libraries
1

It's hard to describe in general terms so I'll use an example:

In a library I have a buffer. Its size should be the same as the width of the lcd. I have in the .h file:

#define phi_prompt_max_item_display_length 20

In the .cpp file:

char buffer[phi_prompt_max_item_display_length];

If someone uses a 40x2 LCD, I want to define phi_prompt_max_item_display_length as 40. I want the arduino sketch to be able to override the define in .h

I tried this in .h:

#ifndef phi_prompt_max_item_display_length      ///< Only define this if it has not been defined. 
#define phi_prompt_max_item_display_length 20   ///< The render_list uses a buffer to render list item. 20 works for up to 20x4 displays to save SRAM.
#endif

I then have in arduino sketch #define phi_prompt_max_item_display_length 40 before it includes the .h
I get 40 in arduino sketch but I still get 20 in the library.

So are the define spaces separate between different .cpp files? How to do what I want to do? Thank you!

2

I'm not certain that you can do that given the way the Arduino build system works.

However if your library creates C++ classes, you could template the class, supplying the width of the LCD display as a template parameter.

Iain

3

You can add both - rows and colums - of the LCD as parameters of the constructor and malloc() the array.

4

Evidently all great minds run in the same ruts XD

5

Thank you Jack! Seems like there is no simple solution as both of us initially experimented. I gather, every .cpp compiles separately. Without a make mechanism in arduino, such as define xxx as yyy in the make file, the only way to communicate with another .cpp is at execution time. I can add another parameter to my lib initialization to take a max_item_length parameter or just dare my lib users to change this define in the .h file.

6

liudr:
Without a make mechanism in arduino, such as define xxx as yyy in the make file, the only way to communicate with another .cpp is at execution time.

Not so. C++ templates offer a compile time link.

Iain

7

Iain,

I am not familiar with the term C++ templates. I'm reading wiki and yes the concept does sound familiar after some reading. I need to read on. Would you be willing to show me a line or two pseudo code on passing a parameter to a template? Thanks.

Liudr

8

Does this help:

template <int length>
class Test
{
  int buffer[length];
};

void setup()
{
  Test<20> shortLine;
  Test<40> longLine;
  
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println(sizeof(shortLine));
  Serial.println(sizeof(longLine));
}

void loop()
{
}

Iain

9

Thanks Iain!