c++ - expected class-name before ‘{’ token { -

i have simple program, 2 classes, inheritance, , can't work out why isn't working. it's getting on nerves.

i have in main.cpp

#include <iostream> #include "square.h"  class shapeparent {     protected:         int width;         int height;     public:          void setvalues(int a, int b)         {             width = a;             height = b;         }  };  int main() {     square small;      small.setvalues(5,5);      small.printarea();      // return 0;  }  

and in square.h

#ifndef square_h #define square_h  class square: public shapeparent {     public:             void printarea()         {             // std::cout << width << std::endl;             // std::cout << height << std::endl;             int area = width*height;             std::cout << area << std::endl;         }   };  #endif 

i error 'expected class-name before ‘{’ token' in square.h

class shareparent shall defined before class square. name used in c+ program shall @ first defined before using.

i advice place definition of class shapeparent in separate header file example "shareparent.h" , include header in file square.h. example

#ifndef square_h #define square_h  #include "shareparent.h"  class square: public shapeparent  //...