diff --git a/qpms/lattices_types.h b/qpms/lattices_types.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4254798
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qpms/lattices_types.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*! \file lattices_types.h
+ * \brief Auxiliary lattice point generator and related enum declarations.
+ *
+ * This file contains necessary declarations needed in other header files.
+ * In contrast to lattices.h, this one is C++ compatible.
+ *
+ * \see lattices.h
+ */
+#ifndef LATTICES_TYPES_H
+#define LATTICES_TYPES_H
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+typedef enum LatticeDimensionality {
+	LAT1D = 1,
+	LAT2D = 2,
+	LAT3D = 4,
+	SPACE1D = 8,
+	SPACE2D = 16,
+	SPACE3D = 32,
+	LAT_1D_IN_3D = 33,
+	LAT_2D_IN_3D = 34,
+	LAT_3D_IN_3D = 40,
+	// special coordinate arrangements (indicating possible optimisations)
+	LAT_ZONLY = 64,
+	LAT_XYONLY = 128,
+	LAT_1D_IN_3D_ZONLY = 97, // LAT1D | SPACE3D | 64
+	LAT_2D_IN_3D_XYONLY = 162 // LAT2D | SPACE3D | 128
+} LatticeDimensionality;
+
+struct PGen;
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+#endif // LATTICES_TYPES_H
diff --git a/tests/catch/catch_aux.C b/tests/catch/catch_aux.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4168c18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/catch/catch_aux.C
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#include "catch_aux.h"
+#include "complex.h"
+namespace qpmstest{
+  /// Creates a new vector<double> from complex number array
+  std::vector<double> pointer2dvec(const _Complex double *arr, size_t siz){
+    std::vector<double> vec(2*siz);
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < siz; ++i) {
+      vec[2*i] = creal(arr[i]);
+      vec[2*i+1] = cimag(arr[i]);
+    }
+    return vec;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<double> pointer2dvec(const double *arr, size_t siz){
+    std::vector<double> vec(siz);
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < siz; ++i) 
+      vec[i] = arr[i];
+    return vec;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<double> pointer2dvec(const csphvec_t *arr, size_t siz) {
+    return pointer2dvec(&arr->rc, 3*siz);
+  }
+}