Multifile Program in C

1. What is a Multifile program?

If a program contains many functions then it is difficult to read and maintain because when the number of functions increases the size of the program/file will also increase. To avoid this some functions can be written in separate file The individual files will be compiled separately and then linked together to form one executable object program. This will help to editing and debugging because each file can be maintained at a manageable size.

2. How functions are defined in Multifile Program?

Within a multi file program a function definition may be either external (or) static An external function will be recognized throughout the entire program(ie all the files) Static function will be recognized only within the file in which it is defined. The default storage class for the function is external Syntax for Function definition
Storage class datatype name(type1 arg1......typen,argn) { }

Example:

extern int calculate(int x) { }

3. How functions are declared in Multifile Program?

When a function is defined in one file and accessed in another one file, the 2nd file must include a function declaration. This declaration identifies the function as an external function whose definition appears elsewhere. The function declarations are usually placed at the beginning of the file before any function definition. Syntax for external function declaration is same as function definition with additional one semicolon at the end
Storage class datatype name(type1 arg1...typen,argn);

Example:
extern int calculate(int x);

To execute a multifile program, each individual file must be compiled separately then the main program file is compiled and executed.

4. A simple Multifile program in c

/****************File1*********/ #include<stdio.h> //Include file test.c #include "test.c" //function declaration extern void result(void); int main() { printf("In file1 main function\n"); result(); return; } /*****************File2*********/ extern void result(void) { printf("Welcome to file2\n"); return; }

output: ./a.out In file1 main function Welcome to file2 5. Accessing external variables in Multifile function:

Within a multifile program, external variables defined in one file and accessed in another file. An external variable definition can appear in only one file. Its location within the file must be external to any function definition. Usually it will appear at the beginning of the file. External variable may include initial values. If no initial value is assigned then it will automatically initialized to zero. To access an external variable in another file,the variable must first be declared within that file .This declaration may appear anywhere within the file usually at the beginning of the file. The declaration must begin with the storage class specifier extern. Initial values cannot be included in external variable declaration Example:

/*********file1**********/ #include<stdio.h> //Include file test.c

#include "test.c" //External variable definition int x=1,y=2,z=3; //function declaration extern void result(void); int main() { printf("In file1 main function\n"); x=y+z; printf("x=%d y=%d z=%d\n",x,y,z); result(); return; } /*****************File2*********/ extern int x,y,z;/*external var declaration*/ extern void result(void) { printf("Welcome to file2\n"); printf("x=%d y=%d z=%d\n",x,y,z); return; }

Output:./a.out In file1 main function x=5 y=2 z=3 Welcome to file2 x=5 y=2 z=3

The value assigned to an external variable can be altered within any file in which the variable is recognized The changes will be recognized in all other files. Thus external variables provide a convenient means of transferring information between files. Example:

/*********file1**********/ #include<stdio.h> //Include file test.c #include "test.c" //External variable definition int x=10,y=20,z=30; //function declaration extern void result(void); int main() { printf("In file1 main function\n"); x=y+z; printf("x=%d y=%d z=%d\n",x,y,z); result(); return; } /*****************File2*********/

extern int x,y,z;/*external var declaration*/ extern void result(void) { printf("Welcome to file2\n"); y=y+10; z=z+10; printf("x=%d y=%d z=%d\n",x,y,z); return; }

Output:./a.out In file1 main function x=50 y=20 z=30 Welcome to file2 x=50 y=30 z=40