error in declaring <afxdb.h> inside stdafx.h

Question

I am trying to use CDatabase and for that I have declared <afxdb.h> in stdafx.h file. When I compile this code I get an error "WINDOWS.H already included. MFC apps must not #include <windows.h>". Why does this happen? Isn't this the right header file to use CDatabase? This is the default generated code...

#if !defined(AFX_STDAFX_H__A9DB83DB_A9FD_11D0_BFD1_444553540000__INCLUDED_)
#define AFX_STDAFX_H__A9DB83DB_A9FD_11D0_BFD1_444553540000__INCLUDED_

#if _MSC_VER > 1000
#pragma once
#endif // _MSC_VER > 1000

#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN     // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers


// Windows Header Files:
#include <windows.h>

// C RunTime Header Files
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <malloc.h>
#include <memory.h>
#include <tchar.h>

If I add #include <afxdb.h> after #include <tchar.h> I get the error specified.

Thank You

Answer 1

Just add these lines:

#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN     // Exclude rarely-used stuff from Windows headers

#include <afxwin.h>   <--
#include <afxext.h>   <--
#include <afxdb.h>    <--

// Windows Header Files:
#include <windows.h>

But since you didn't use MFC in this project before, you will probably have to change Project properties -> General -> Use of MFC from Use Standard Windows Libraries to Use MFC in a Static Library so that linker is satisfied and doesn't bother you with unresolved external symbol errors.

Hope this helps ;)

Answer 2

You need to #include afx-headers first. After that you might still #include <windows.h>, although this is not necessary. So just change the order of your includes and it will work.