April 11, 2016

TypeScript - How to import other TypeScript files.

As you proceed using TypeScript in large projects, you will end up with multiple typescript files. Then you may find a problem how we can use/import functions/classes from other files.

For example we have following interface in IShape.ts file.

interface IShape {
        x: number;
        y: number;
        height: number;
        width: number;
    }

And in another file Square.ts we have Square class with one of the constructor overloads is accepting that IShape interface as parameter.

class Square {
        public x: number;
        public y: number;
        public height: number;
        public width: number;

        constructor();
        constructor(obj: IShape);
        constructor(obj?: any) {
            this.x = obj && obj.x || 0
            this.y = obj && obj.y || 0
            this.height = obj && obj.height || 0
            this.width = obj && obj.width || 0;
        }

But if you try to compile this, you may get the following error:

Error TS2304 Cannot find name 'IShape'.

Because Square.ts don't know about ISquare.ts. To fix this error, we have to add reference to ISquare.ts file on the top of Square.ts.

/// 

class Square {
        public x: number;
        public y: number;
        public height: number;
        public width: number;

        constructor();
        constructor(obj: IShape);
        constructor(obj?: any) {
            this.x = obj && obj.x || 0
            this.y = obj && obj.y || 0
            this.height = obj && obj.height || 0
            this.width = obj && obj.width || 0;
        }

Now it will compile successfully.

You can add multiple lines of references to add multiple files. Just remember that path is relative to the current file.