Template function in header file

[Tinnin]

Hi all. I'm starting to learn a bit about template functions and I have a question regarding declaration in a header file.

My code is as follows (from "Accelerated C++, chapter 8"):

#include "Split_Template_func.h"

#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>

using std::cout;        using std::cin;     using std::string;
using std::getline;     using std::ostream_iterator;

int main()
{
    string s;
    while (getline(cin, s))
        split(s, ostream_iterator<string>(cout, "\n"));
    return 0;
}

Split_Template_func.cpp:

#include "Split_Template_func.h"

#include <algorithm>
#include <iterator>
#include <cctype>

using std::string;      using std::ostream_iterator;        using std::find_if;
using std::isspace;

bool space(char c)
{
    return isspace(c);
}

bool not_space(char c)
{
    return !isspace(c);
}

template <class Out>
void split(const string& str, Out os)
{
    typedef string::const_iterator iter;

    iter i = str.begin();
    while (i != str.end())
    {
        //ignore leading blanks
        i = find_if(i, str.end(), not_space);

        // find end of next word
        iter j = find_if(i, str.end(), space);

        // copy the characters in [i,j)
        if (i != str.end())
            *os++ = string(i, j);

        i = j;
    }
}

Split_Template_func.h:

#ifndef GUARD_Split_Template_func_h
#define GUARD_Split_Template_func_h

#include <string>

bool space(char);
bool not_space(char);

template <class Out>
void split(const std::string&, Out);

#endif

I am getting an error on line 13 in main:
"undefined reference to 'void split<std::ostream_iterator<std::string, ..."

I assume it is because I have declared the template function incorrectly. How should I have done it?

Thanks.

[Despairy]

Don't have much time but if I am not mistaken template functions must be in the header.

Try moving the the whole function from the CPP file to the H file.
(if you still want seperate files try renaming the CPP to TPP)

good luck

[mike_2000_17]

See this C++ FAQLite entry.

Long story short, the definition (implementation) of all templates must be visible in all translation units that use it. Best way to achieve that is to put it in the header file. You can still separate the declaration and definition (but still both in the header file), if you want a cleaner set of declarations.

[Tinnin]

Great. Sorted it. Thanks guys.