Error on Arduino Code (unknown type name 'LiquidCrystal')

Question

I am using Arduino IDE 1.6.8 and I am trying to compile the following code Wheatstone Bridge. I have currently a really weird error:

unknown type name 'LiquidCrystal'

This error seems to come from the header file:

// Include the Wheatstone library
#include <WheatstoneBridge.h>

// Include the LCD library
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// Declare external global lcd
extern LiquidCrystal lcd; <<<Error

I have already installed the LiquidCrystal library but I don't know if this trouble is due to the compiler (and the IDE) or something is wrong. The compiler seems to find the right libraries...

Answer 1

Using "extern" when instantiating a class is unusual. We can not tell what your intentions are because this is only part of your code. However it would be my guess that this code:

// Declare external global lcd
extern LiquidCrystal lcd;

Should actually be written like this:

// Declare external global lcd
LiquidCrystal lcd((12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

This is making a BIG assumption that you are using an LCD similar to the one used in the HelloWorld example and you have connected it using the same pins! Comments from the HelloWorld example to help you out:

 * LCD RS pin to digital pin 12
 * LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11
 * LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5
 * LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4
 * LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3
 * LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2
 * LCD R/W pin to ground
 * LCD VSS pin to ground
 * LCD VCC pin to 5V
 * 10K resistor:
 * ends to +5V and ground
 * wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3)

Background:

Arduino sketches are written mostly in C while the libraries take advantage of C++. As such the libraries can use a C++ feature called "overloading". This is where you can have several different functions with different parameters all with the same name. The advantage is that you can call upon slightly different functions (or in this case different classes) simply by altering what is passed. The LiquidCrystal class has defined all these possibilities:

  LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t enable,
        uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3,
        uint8_t d4, uint8_t d5, uint8_t d6, uint8_t d7);
  LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t rw, uint8_t enable,
        uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3,
        uint8_t d4, uint8_t d5, uint8_t d6, uint8_t d7);
  LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t rw, uint8_t enable,
        uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3);
  LiquidCrystal(uint8_t rs, uint8_t enable,
        uint8_t d0, uint8_t d1, uint8_t d2, uint8_t d3);

But in none are there no parameters. That is why the compiler could not find the class in your code. You needed to match one of the above class types.

Answer 2

Download the Liquidcrystal.zip file from this link, Crystal link

Now add that file into documents/Arduino/libraries folder. Now check if the library is added in the library. It should probably work.