---
name: "rootcint"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libroot-core-dev"
version: "5.34.19+dfsg-1.2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rootcint"
---

# rootcint(1)

ROOT Dictionary generator

## 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)](/root/1.md), *cint*(1)

**rootcint** is  documented fully on   *ROOT web-site* ⟨http://root.cern.ch/root/RootCintMan.html⟩

## ORIGINAL AUTHORS

The ROOT team (see web page above):

**Rene Brun** and **Fons Rademakers**

## COPYRIGHT

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA

## 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).