I am pursuing some interest in c++ programming by way of self instruction. I am working on some basic stuff for now and am currently having issue getting my classes talking/instantiated?.
I am trying to get my main cpp file to compile alongside a header and call to some class functions through the main using a more efficient command method.
I am stuck and would appreciate some help. I will include both files. I am just trying to get a return value from the header by calling the function.
error:
main.cpp:6.21 error: cannot call member function 'void myClass::setNumber(int) without object
the code works when compiled with the main, so it is something with the 'scope resolution operator' i think. First is main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "myClass.h"
using namespace std;
int main(){
myClass::setNumber(6);
{
return number;
}
}
Then my header file myClass.h
// MyClass.h
#ifndef MYCLASS_H
#define MYCLASS_H
class myClass {
private:
int number;//declares the int 'number'
float numberFloat;//declares the float 'numberFloat
public:
void setNumber(int x) {
number = x;//wraps the argument "x" as "number"
}
void setNumberFloat(float x) {
numberFloat = x;
}
int getNumber() {//defines the function within the class.
number += 500;
return number;
}
float getNumberFloat() {//defines the function
numberFloat *= 1.07;
return numberFloat;
}
};
#endif
Any help?
The error message says everything:
cannot call member function 'void myClass::setNumber(int)' without object
You need to create an object first:
myClass obj;
then call the class method on that object:
obj.setNumber(6);
The value 6 will get assigned to the number field of the obj variable.
What is the best way to initialize a private, static data member in C++? I tried this in my header file, but it gives me weird linker errors:
class foo
{
private:
static int i;
};
int foo::i = 0;
I'm guessing this is because I can't initialize a private member from outside the class. So what's the best way to do this?
The class declaration should be in the header file (Or in the source file if not shared).
File: foo.h
class foo
{
private:
static int i;
};
But the initialization should be in source file.
File: foo.cpp
int foo::i = 0;
If the initialization is in the header file then each file that includes the header file will have a definition of the static member. Thus during the link phase you will get linker errors as the code to initialize the variable will be defined in multiple source files.
The initialisation of the static int i must be done outside of any function.
Note: Matt Curtis: points out that C++ allows the simplification of the above if the static member variable is of const integer type (bool, char, char8_t [since C++20], char16_t, char32_t, wchar_t, short, int, long, long long, or any implementation-defined extended integer types, including any signed, unsigned, and cv-qualified variants.). You can then declare and initialize the member variable directly inside the class declaration in the header file:
class foo
{
private:
static int const i = 42;
};
For a variable:
foo.h:
class foo
{
private:
static int i;
};
foo.cpp:
int foo::i = 0;
This is because there can only be one instance of foo::i in your program. It's sort of the equivalent of extern int i in a header file and int i in a source file.
For a constant you can put the value straight in the class declaration:
class foo
{
private:
static int i;
const static int a = 42;
};
Since C++17, static members may be defined in the header with the inline keyword.
http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/static
"A static data member may be declared inline. An inline static data member can be defined in the class definition and may specify a default member initializer. It does not need an out-of-class definition:"
struct X
{
inline static int n = 1;
};
For future viewers of this question, I want to point out that you should avoid what monkey0506 is suggesting.
Header files are for declarations.
Header files get compiled once for every .cpp file that directly or indirectly #includes them, and code outside of any function is run at program initialization, before main().
By putting: foo::i = VALUE; into the header, foo:i will be assigned the value VALUE (whatever that is) for every .cpp file, and these assignments will happen in an indeterminate order (determined by the linker) before main() is run.
What if we #define VALUE to be a different number in one of our .cpp files? It will compile fine and we will have no way of knowing which one wins until we run the program.
Never put executed code into a header for the same reason that you never #include a .cpp file.
Include guards (which I agree you should always use) protect you from something different: the same header being indirectly #included multiple times while compiling a single .cpp file.
With a Microsoft compiler[1], static variables that are not int-like can also be defined in a header file, but outside of the class declaration, using the Microsoft specific __declspec(selectany).
class A
{
static B b;
}
__declspec(selectany) A::b;
Note that I'm not saying this is good, I just say it can be done.
[1] These days, more compilers than MSC support __declspec(selectany) - at least gcc and clang. Maybe even more.
int foo::i = 0;
Is the correct syntax for initializing the variable, but it must go in the source file (.cpp) rather than in the header.
Because it is a static variable the compiler needs to create only one copy of it. You have to have a line "int foo:i" some where in your code to tell the compiler where to put it otherwise you get a link error. If that is in a header you will get a copy in every file that includes the header, so get multiply defined symbol errors from the linker.
If you want to initialize some compound type (f.e. string) you can do something like that:
class SomeClass {
static std::list<string> _list;
public:
static const std::list<string>& getList() {
struct Initializer {
Initializer() {
// Here you may want to put mutex
_list.push_back("FIRST");
_list.push_back("SECOND");
....
}
}
static Initializer ListInitializationGuard;
return _list;
}
};
As the ListInitializationGuard is a static variable inside SomeClass::getList() method it will be constructed only once, which means that constructor is called once. This will initialize _list variable to value you need. Any subsequent call to getList will simply return already initialized _list object.
Of course you have to access _list object always by calling getList() method.
C++11 static constructor pattern that works for multiple objects
One idiom was proposed at: https://stackoverflow.com/a/27088552/895245 but here goes a cleaner version that does not require creating a new method per member.
main.cpp
#include <cassert>
#include <vector>
// Normally on the .hpp file.
class MyClass {
public:
static std::vector<int> v, v2;
static struct StaticConstructor {
StaticConstructor() {
v.push_back(1);
v.push_back(2);
v2.push_back(3);
v2.push_back(4);
}
} _staticConstructor;
};
// Normally on the .cpp file.
std::vector<int> MyClass::v;
std::vector<int> MyClass::v2;
// Must come after every static member.
MyClass::StaticConstructor MyClass::_staticConstructor;
int main() {
assert(MyClass::v[0] == 1);
assert(MyClass::v[1] == 2);
assert(MyClass::v2[0] == 3);
assert(MyClass::v2[1] == 4);
}
GitHub upstream.
Compile and run:
g++ -ggdb3 -O0 -std=c++11 -Wall -Wextra -pedantic -o main.out main.cpp
./main.out
See also: static constructors in C++? I need to initialize private static objects
Tested on Ubuntu 19.04.
C++17 inline variable
Mentioned at: https://stackoverflow.com/a/45062055/895245 but here is a multifile runnable example to make it even clearer: How do inline variables work?
This awesome C++17 feature allow us to:
conveniently use just a single memory address for each constant
store it as a constexpr: How to declare constexpr extern?
do it in a single line from one header
main.cpp
#include <cassert>
#include "notmain.hpp"
int main() {
// Both files see the same memory address.
assert(¬main_i == notmain_func());
assert(notmain_i == 42);
}
notmain.hpp
#ifndef NOTMAIN_HPP
#define NOTMAIN_HPP
inline constexpr int notmain_i = 42;
const int* notmain_func();
#endif
notmain.cpp
#include "notmain.hpp"
const int* notmain_func() {
return ¬main_i;
}
Compile and run:
g++ -c -o notmain.o -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -pedantic notmain.cpp
g++ -c -o main.o -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -pedantic main.cpp
g++ -o main -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -pedantic main.o notmain.o
./main
GitHub upstream.
I don't have enough rep here to add this as a comment, but IMO it's good style to write your headers with #include guards anyway, which as noted by Paranaix a few hours ago would prevent a multiple-definition error. Unless you're already using a separate CPP file, it's not necessary to use one just to initialize static non-integral members.
#ifndef FOO_H
#define FOO_H
#include "bar.h"
class foo
{
private:
static bar i;
};
bar foo::i = VALUE;
#endif
I see no need to use a separate CPP file for this. Sure, you can, but there's no technical reason why you should have to.
You can also include the assignment in the header file if you use header guards. I have used this technique for a C++ library I have created. Another way to achieve the same result is to use static methods. For example...
class Foo
{
public:
int GetMyStatic() const
{
return *MyStatic();
}
private:
static int* MyStatic()
{
static int mStatic = 0;
return &mStatic;
}
}
The above code has the "bonus" of not requiring a CPP/source file. Again, a method I use for my C++ libraries.
The linker problem you encountered is probably caused by:
Providing both class and static member definition in header file,
Including this header in two or more source files.
This is a common problem for those who starts with C++. Static class member must be initialized in single translation unit i.e. in single source file.
Unfortunately, the static class member must be initialized outside of the class body. This complicates writing header-only code, and, therefore, I am using quite different approach. You can provide your static object through static or non-static class function for example:
class Foo
{
// int& getObjectInstance() const {
static int& getObjectInstance() {
static int object;
return object;
}
void func() {
int &object = getValueInstance();
object += 5;
}
};
I follow the idea from Karl. I like it and now I use it as well.
I've changed a little bit the notation and add some functionality
#include <stdio.h>
class Foo
{
public:
int GetMyStaticValue () const { return MyStatic(); }
int & GetMyStaticVar () { return MyStatic(); }
static bool isMyStatic (int & num) { return & num == & MyStatic(); }
private:
static int & MyStatic ()
{
static int mStatic = 7;
return mStatic;
}
};
int main (int, char **)
{
Foo obj;
printf ("mystatic value %d\n", obj.GetMyStaticValue());
obj.GetMyStaticVar () = 3;
printf ("mystatic value %d\n", obj.GetMyStaticValue());
int valMyS = obj.GetMyStaticVar ();
int & iPtr1 = obj.GetMyStaticVar ();
int & iPtr2 = valMyS;
printf ("is my static %d %d\n", Foo::isMyStatic(iPtr1), Foo::isMyStatic(iPtr2));
}
this outputs
mystatic value 7
mystatic value 3
is my static 1 0
Also working in privateStatic.cpp file :
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
private:
static int v;
};
int A::v = 10; // possible initializing
int main()
{
A a;
//cout << A::v << endl; // no access because of private scope
return 0;
}
// g++ privateStatic.cpp -o privateStatic && ./privateStatic
What about a set_default() method?
class foo
{
public:
static void set_default(int);
private:
static int i;
};
void foo::set_default(int x) {
i = x;
}
We would only have to use the set_default(int x) method and our static variable would be initialized.
This would not be in disagreement with the rest of the comments, actually it follows the same principle of initializing the variable in a global scope, but by using this method we make it explicit (and easy to see-understand) instead of having the definition of the variable hanging there.
One "old-school" way to define constants is to replace them by a enum:
class foo
{
private:
enum {i = 0}; // default type = int
enum: int64_t {HUGE = 1000000000000}; // may specify another type
};
This way doesn't require providing a definition, and avoids making the constant lvalue, which can save you some headaches, e.g. when you accidentally ODR-use it.
Here are all possibilities and errors in one simple example ...
#ifndef Foo_h
#define Foo_h
class Foo
{
static const int a = 42; // OK
static const int b {7}; // OK
//static int x = 42; // ISO C++ forbids in-class initialization of non-const static member 'Foo::x'
//static int y {7}; // ISO C++ forbids in-class initialization of non-const static member 'Foo::x'
static int x;
static int y;
int m = 42;
int n {7};
};
// Foo::x = 42; // error: 'int Foo::x' is private
int Foo::x = 42; // OK in Foo.h if included in only one *.cpp -> *.o file!
int Foo::y {7}; // OK
// int Foo::y {7}; // error: redefinition of 'int Foo::y'
// ONLY if the compiler can see both declarations at the same time it,
// OTHERWISE you get a linker error
#endif // Foo_h
But better place this in Foo.cpp. This way you can separately compile each file and link them later, otherwise Foo:x will be present in multiple object files and cause a linker error. ...
// Foo::x = 42; // error: 'int Foo::x' is private, bad if Foo::X is public!
int Foo::x = 42; // OK in Foo.h if included in only one *.cpp -> *.o file!
int Foo::y {7}; // OK
Does this serves your purpose?
//header file
struct MyStruct {
public:
const std::unordered_map<std::string, uint32_t> str_to_int{
{ "a", 1 },
{ "b", 2 },
...
{ "z", 26 }
};
const std::unordered_map<int , std::string> int_to_str{
{ 1, "a" },
{ 2, "b" },
...
{ 26, "z" }
};
std::string some_string = "justanotherstring";
uint32_t some_int = 42;
static MyStruct & Singleton() {
static MyStruct instance;
return instance;
}
private:
MyStruct() {};
};
//Usage in cpp file
int main(){
std::cout<<MyStruct::Singleton().some_string<<std::endl;
std::cout<<MyStruct::Singleton().some_int<<std::endl;
return 0;
}
I just wanted to mention something a little strange to me when I first encountered this.
I needed to initialize a private static data member in a template class.
in the .h or .hpp, it looks something like this to initialize a static data member of a template class:
template<typename T>
Type ClassName<T>::dataMemberName = initialValue;
I am trying to access C++ function (f1) and string a from c file using a wrapper function. Code below.
Error thrown is
Error : error: ‘p’ was not declared in this scope
double d = f11( p,i);
1.h
double f11(struct c* p, int i);
1.cpp
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class c
{
public: double f1(int i) // how can i access from c
{
cout<<"I am in c++";
}
public : string a; // how can i access string from c
};
extern "C" double f11(c* p, int i) // wrapper function
{
return p->f1(i);
}
2.c
#include<stdio.h>
#include "1.h"
int main()
{
int i=9;
double d = f11( p,i);
}
If you manually include the contents of "1.h" in main.cpp, it would look:
#include <stdio.h>
double f11(struct c* p, int i);
int main()
{
int i=9;
double d = f11( p,i);
}
There are several problems there.
You haven't declared p before using it in the call to f11.
You don't have any way of constructing an object of type struct c in main. Even if you were to fix the compiler errors by providing declarations of struct c and p, you'll run into run time problems since the only way to initialize p will be to initialize it to NULL. That wouldn't do you any good since you have a line
return p->f1(i);
in f11.
Your declaration and definition of f11 will result in linker error. If you want to implement the function as extern "C", you'll also have to declare it as extern "C".
extern "C" double f11(c* p, int i);
In 1.cpp, the member function f1 does not return a double. That is cause for undefined error, if the compiler does not report that as an error.
See working code at http://ideone.com/aVFWFJ. Please note that I changed the implementation of c::f1 so it does not crash.
I'm trying to figure out why this error is ocurring, but I have had no success.
When I try to compile this code
using namespace std;
#include <iostream>
#include <gmp.h>
#include <gmpxx.h>
class MyRand
{
gmp_randclass randGen(gmp_randinit_default);
};
int main()
{
MyRand s();
gmp_randclass gmpRand(gmp_randinit_default);
return 0;
}
using this command g++ Random.cpp -lgmpxx -lgmp, I get the follow message:
In file included from Random.cpp:3:0: Random.cpp:8:27: error:
‘__gmp_randinit_default’ is not a type
gmp_randclass randGen(gmp_randinit_default);
But, note, this line
gmp_randclass randGen(gmp_randinit_default);
is the same of this one (inside the main function)
gmp_randclass gmpRand(gmp_randinit_default);
and only the first generate an error.
Also, if I define the class MyRand as follow (initializing the mpz_randclass inside a function)
class MyRand
{
void func()
{
gmp_randclass randGen(gmp_randinit_default);
}
};
I can compile it with no erros.
Does someone know what is going on?
Thank you very much.
You can not initialize class members where they are defined (at least not before C++11). You may put it in constructor.
class MyRand
{
public:
MyRand() : randGen(gmp_randinit_default) {
}
private:
gmp_randclass randGen;
};
Use a {} brace initializer or an = initializer
class MyRand
{
gmp_randclass randGen{gmp_randinit_default};
};
And then Try compiling with c++11 support
g++ -std=c++11 Random.cpp -lgmpxx -lgmp
I'm having difficulty interpreting some of my results, which I would expect to behave the same but are not.
I am trying to write a method that returns a function pointer getPtrFn
I have a main.c file reading
#include <iostream>
#include "test.hpp"
int main(int argc, char* argv[]){
Test test;
void (*fPtr)(void) = test.getPtrFn();
return 0;
}
A test.hpp file that reads
#ifndef _test_h
#define _test_h
class Test {
private:
void (*ptrFn)(void);
public:
Test(){};
void (*getPtrFn(void))(void){
return ptrFn;
};
~Test();
};
#endif
And a test.cpp file that reads
#include "test.hpp"
Test::~Test(){}
This runs fine. However, when I move the implementation for *getPtrFn(void) to the implementation file (revised files shown below),
test.hpp:
#ifndef _test_h
#define _test_h
class Test {
private:
void (*ptrFn)(void);
public:
Test(){};
void (*getPtrFn(void))(void);
~Test();
};
#endif
test.cpp:
#include "test.hpp"
void (Test::*getPtrFn)(void){
return ptrFn;
};
Test::~Test(){}
I get the compile error
test.cpp:16:9: error: use of undeclared identifier 'ptrFn'
My understanding of the language syntax is that they would be treated the same. So what gives?
-Jeff
You need
void(*Test::getPtrFn(void))(void)
{
return ptrFn;
}
instead of void (Test::*getPtrFn)(void){...}. void (Test::*getPtrFn)(void) is the declaration of getPtrFn as a pointer-to-Test-member-function taking no parameters (void) and returning void, so after you put the braces { ... } you get a compile-time error (its like trying to declare int i{/*some statemets*/}).
Also, and don't forget to keep the declaration
void(*getPtrFn(void))(void);
in your header (right now it seems you don't have it, did you cut/pasted it?).
Quite a horrible thing to look at... So really, use a type alias, it makes your code much cleaner.
using PTRFN = void(*)(void); // or typedef void(*PTRFN)(void);
class Test {
private:
PTRFN ptrFn;
public:
PTRFN getPtrFn(void);
Test(){};
~Test(){};
};
PTRFN Test::getPtrFn(void) // clear an concise
{
return ptrFn;
}
In case you really really want to be able do decipher every kind of pointer declaration you can think of, try looking at the clockwise/spiral rule, I found it extremely useful, clear and easy to understand. Then test your knowledge at cdecl.org.