ROOTCINT(1)

NAME
rootcint - ROOT Dictionary generator

SYNOPSIS
rootcint header_file[+][-][!] ... [LinkDef.h] > dict_file
rootcint [-f] dict_file [-c] header_file[+][-][!] ... [LinkDef.h]

DESCRIPTION
The rootcint program generates the Streamer(), TBuffer &operator>>() and ShowMembers() methods for ROOT classes, i.e. classes using the ClassDef and ClassImp macros. In addition rootcint can also generate the CINT dictionaries needed in order to get access to ones classes via the interpreter.

rootcint can be used like:

    rootcint TAttAxis.h[-][!] ... [LinkDef.h] > AxisGen.C
or
    rootcint [-f] [AxDict.C] [-c] TAttAxis.h[-][!] ... [LinkDef.h]

The difference between the two is that in the first case only the Streamer() and ShowMembers() methods are generated while in the latter case a complete compileable file is generated (including the include statements). The first method also allows the output to be appended to an already existing file (using >> ). The optional minus behind the include file name tells rootcint to not generate the Streamer() method. A custom method must be provided by the user in that case. When using option -c also the interpreter method interface stubs will be written to the output file ( AxDict.C in the above case). By default the output file will not be overwritten if it exists. Use the -f (force) option to overwite the output file.

Before specifying the first header file one can also add include file directories to be searched and preprocessor defines, like:

    -I$../include -DDebug

The (optional) file LinkDef.h looks like:

    #ifdef __CINT__
    #pragma link off all globals;
    #pragma link off all classes;
    #pragma link off all functions;
    #pragma link C++ class TAxis;
    #pragma link C++ class TAttAxis-;
    #pragma link C++ class TArrayC-!;
    #pragma link C++ function StrDup;
    #pragma link C++ function operator+(const TString&,const TString&);
    #pragma link C++ global gROOT;
    #pragma link C++ global gEnv;
    #pragma link C++ enum EMessageTypes;
    #endif

This file tells rootcint for which classes the method interface stubs should be generated. A trailing `-' in the class name tells rootcint to not generate the Streamer() method. This is necessary for those classes that need a customized Streamer() method. A trailing `!' in the class name tells rootcint to not generate the operator>>(TBuffer &b, MyClass *&obj) method. This is necessary to be able to write pointers to objects of classes not inheriting from TObject. When this file is not specified a default version exporting the classes with the names equal to the include files minus the .h is generated.

IMPORTANT:

1   LinkDef.h must be the last argument on the rootcint command line.

2   Note that the LinkDef file name MUST contain the string: LinkDef.h or linkdef.h, i.e. NA49_LinkDef.h is fine just like, mylinkdef.h.

SEE ALSO
root(1), cint(1)

rootcint is documented fully on http://root.cern.ch/root/RootCintMan.html

ORIGINAL AUTHORS
The ROOT team (see web page above):
    Rene Brun and Fons Rademakers

COPYRIGHT
ROOT Software Terms and Conditions

The authors hereby grant permission to use, copy, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose, provided that existing copyright notices are retained in all copies and that this notice is included verbatim in any distributions. Additionally, the authors grant permission to modify this software and its documentation for any purpose, provided that such modifications are not distributed without the explicit consent of the authors and that existing copyright notices are retained in all copies. Users of the software are asked to feed back problems, benefits, and/or suggestions about the software to the ROOT Development Team (rootdev@root.cern.ch). Support for this software - fixing of bugs, incorporation of new features - is done on a best effort basis. All bug fixes and enhancements will be made available under the same terms and conditions as the original software,

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR DISTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, ITS DOCUMENTATION, OR ANY DERIVATIVES THEREOF, EVEN IF THE AUTHORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.

AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Christian Holm Christensen <cholm@nbi.dk>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).