Visual Studio 2019 debugger steps into header file instead of cpp

Question

I have created a small c++ application with a header file, a cpp file, and a main function. I expected that the header file would be an interface , that would just define my functions and properties, but the cpp file would be the one to implement.

However when I create my files, in my main function I have a breakpoint and try to step into my method, it just takes me straight to the header file definition instead of the implementing cpp file. Here is my code:

//header file
#pragma once
#include <string>
#include <SQLAPI.h>

class DbConnection
{
    public:
    int Id, Age;
    std::string Name;

    void ConnectToDatabase(const std::string databaseName) { }
    void Retrieve(const std::string table) { }
};

Here is my cpp file:

#include "DbConnection.h"
#include <string>
#include <SQLAPI.h>
#include <iostream>

SAConnection sqlCon;
SACommand sqlCmd(&sqlCon);

int Id, Age;
std::string Name;

void ConnectToDatabase(const std::string databaseName)
{
    sqlCon.Connect(
        databaseName,
        ",
        ",
        SA_SQLServer_Client);
}
void Retrieve(const std::string table)
{
    //code to retrieve data
    std::cout << "success";
}

My main function which is in a separate cpp file. I set a breakpoint and attempt to step into the method Retrieve and it takes me to the header file instead of the cpp. Any help with debugging is appreciated.

#include "DbConnection.h"
#include <stdio.h>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    DbConnection con;

    con.ConnectToDatabase(
       "databaseParameter");
    
    con.Retrieve("tableParameter");

    return 0;
}

I assume it is one of two things, either my debugger in visual studio 2019 is not set to the proper setting, or it has to do with how my #include "DbConnection.h" statements are included in both cpp files.

Answer 1

Two things:

1. You have to write in the cpp file

   void DbConnection::ConnectToDatabase(const std::string databaseName) {... }

and so for the Retrieve function to tell the compiler that this is the function of the class.

2. You actually implemented the function in the header file when you put {} after the function declaration.