Correct location of header file for arduino sketches

Question

I have NewSoftSerial.h and NewSoftSerial.cpp in the same folder as my sketch.

The sketch is thus.

#include <NewSoftSerial.h>

int incomingByte = 0;   // for incoming serial data
NewSoftSerial bluetooth(2, 3);

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  Serial.begin(9600);   // opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
  Serial.flush();
  //enter command mode
  Serial.println("$$$");
}

void loop() {
  // send data only when you receive data:
  if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    //read the incoming byte:
    incomingByte = Serial.read();

    //say what you got:
    Serial.print("I received: ");
    Serial.println(incomingByte, BYTE);
  }
}

What am I doing wrong that I get these errors?

trainremotesketch.cpp:1:27: error: NewSoftSerial.h: No such file or directory trainremotesketch:3: error: 'NewSoftSerial' does not name a type

Answer 1

The short answer is that library files go in the libraries folder in the Arduino root folder. A library should be in a sub-folder named for the class, and should contain a c++ implementation and header file.

-Arduino
  |
  +--libraries  
       |
       +--NewSoftSerial
           |
           +--NewSoftSerial.cpp
           |
           +--NewSoftSerial.h           

Answer 2

A longer answer is that if you want to include a header file which isn't in the library path, you use double quotes, instead of angle brackets:

#include "NewSoftSerial.h"