How to call a function from another class? - c++

Question

I am trying to call a function in another class. I need to use the surface area function or the information that was stored in it from the previous class for another class. How would I go about that?
I have already tried HalfOpenCylinder::surfaceArea() and HalfOpenCylinder.surfaceArea() and neither worked.
//surface area function that I want to use for other class
double HalfOpenCylinder::surfaceArea(double height, double pi) {
double surfaceArea = (2 * pi * radius * height) + (pi * pow(radius, 2));
return surfaceArea;
}

Answer 1

To call a function from another class you need to first create an object (instance) of that class.
Using that object you can call a particular function
eg:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Student
{ // defining class
public:
int id;
void add(){
int x=1;
int y=2;
int z=x+y;
cout<<z<<endl;
}
};
int main() {
Student s1; // creating object of class
s1.id=20;
s1.add() // calling function of that class
return 0;
}

Answer 2

I have written a script that shows you how you can
"call a function in another class"
and
"use the surface area function or the information that was stored in it from the previous class for another class".
This is a script with many examples in it. It uses an updated version of your surfaceArea() method (method being the term since the function is defined from within a class). I have also included what output the script produces at the very bottom of the script.
You can copy and past this entire code segment into a C++ compiler and it should work for you. I compiled and tested it in Visual Studio 2015 Community. I went to new project, and created a "Win32 Console Application" in the C++ category.
// ConsoleApplication10.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//
// This class example was created to answer kittykoder's question on StackOverflow.
// Both of these need to be included
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
// We need the std namespace
using namespace std;
// Here I am defining a struct so that you can easily take all the values out of the
// HalfOpenCylinder class at once, and even make a new Cylinder object with the values by
// using the struct in one of the two HalfOpenCylinder class constructors.
struct CylinderValues
{
public:
CylinderValues(double radius, double height, double surfaceArea) {
this->radius = radius;
this->height = height;
this->surfaceArea = surfaceArea;
}
__readonly double radius;
__readonly double height;
__readonly double surfaceArea;
};
// This is the class I saw in your example. Since it is named
// HalfOpenCylinder, I decided to treat it like an
// instantiatable object class, both because it makes sense name wise,
// and based on the context you provided in your question.
class HalfOpenCylinder
{
public:
// Pi is always 3.14, so there is no reason to make it a passable parameter
// like in your example. Thus I have made it a constant. It's a static constant because
// of the static function I've placed in this class to help in answering your question.
static const float pi;
// I have encapsulated the variables that make up this
// class's objects behind methods so that the surface area can be
// updated every time the radius or height values are changed.
double GetRadius() { return radius; }
void SetRadius(double value) { radius = value; UpdateSurfaceArea(); }
double GetHeight() { return height; }
void SetHeight(double value) { height = value; UpdateSurfaceArea(); }
double GetSurfaceArea() { return surfaceArea; }
// You can make a HalfOpenCylinder object with this constructor
HalfOpenCylinder(double radius, double height) {
this->radius = radius;
this->height = height;
UpdateSurfaceArea();
}
// You can use another HalfOpenCylinder object to make a new HalfOpenCylinder object using
// this constructor.
HalfOpenCylinder(CylinderValues values) {
radius = values.radius;
height = values.height;
surfaceArea = values.surfaceArea;
}
// This will return the struct needed to use the constructor just above this comment.
CylinderValues CopyValues() {
return CylinderValues(radius, height, surfaceArea);
}
// Here is your surface area calculation from your question
static double CalculateSurfaceArea(double radius, double height) {
return (2 * pi * radius * height) + (pi * pow(radius, 2));
}
private:
// Here are the values you wanted to be able to access from another class.
// You can access them using the methods above for getting and setting. The
// surfaceArea value is automatically recalculated if you change either the
// radius or height variable's values.
double radius;
double height;
double surfaceArea;
// This method is here so that HalfOpenCylinder objects can use the
// Surface area calculation. I could have copied and pasted the calculation
// code here to avoid calling the static method, but then I would be writing code
// more than need be. This way, you can update one and the other will be correct.
void UpdateSurfaceArea() {
surfaceArea = CalculateSurfaceArea(radius, height);
}
};
// This is honestly just here because the compiler yelled at me for defining a static
// constant inside a non-static class. Could'a gotten away with it in C#. Thank you compiler.
const float HalfOpenCylinder::pi = 3.141592;
// This is called a function since it is outside of any class (although,
// that is one of the few differences between functions and methods.
// Methods being, functions defined inside classes)
void ThisIsAFunction() {
cout << "This is the text from the function named: ThisIsAFunction";
}
// This class is just here to show you how to call functions and methods from inside classes
class CallFunctionAndMethodTester
{
public:
void MethodInsideTheClass() {
cout << "The below is printed from a function called in a class: \n";
// Here, I am calling a function from inside a class
ThisIsAFunction();
cout << "\n\nThe below is printed from a static method called in a class: \n";
// Here, I am calling a static method from inside a class
cout << HalfOpenCylinder::CalculateSurfaceArea(14.5, 50.5);
// Here, I am making an object instance from inside a class
HalfOpenCylinder bobTheCylinder(1.5, 5.4);
cout << "\n\nThe below is printed from an object's method called in a class: \n";
// Here, I am calling an object's method from inside a class
cout << bobTheCylinder.GetRadius();
}
};
// Ok. We made it. THIS main function is where we will use and
// test the classes we have made above.
int main() {
// Make a new cylinder object. No pointer, so it will be destroyed when the computer
// reads past main (which is the end of this program anyways).
cout << "Cylinder 1 Values: \n";
HalfOpenCylinder cylinder1(5.0, 10.0);
cout << cylinder1.GetRadius();
cout << "\n"; // <--just makin' a newline here
cout << cylinder1.GetHeight();
cout << "\n";
cout << cylinder1.GetSurfaceArea();
cout << "\n\n"; // <--just makin' two newlines here
// Change the object's height. The surface area updates automatically.
cout << "Cylinder 1 new surface area once Height is changed: \n";
cylinder1.SetHeight(20.5);
cout << cylinder1.GetSurfaceArea();
cout << "\n\n";
// Make a second Cylinder using the first cylinder's values.
cout << "Cylinder 2 Values: \n";
HalfOpenCylinder cylinder2(cylinder1.CopyValues());
cout << cylinder2.GetRadius();
cout << "\n";
cout << cylinder2.GetHeight();
cout << "\n";
cout << cylinder2.GetSurfaceArea();
cout << "\n\n";
// Here I'm using the static CalculateSurfaceArea function to use the surface area
// method without having to make a new HalfOpenCylinder object.
cout << HalfOpenCylinder::CalculateSurfaceArea(5.0, 10.0);
cout << "\n\n";
// Here I am making an object of type CallFunctionAndMethodTester so that I can call
// the method inside it that is using my example of how to call functions and methods
// from within classes.
CallFunctionAndMethodTester tester;
cout << "Everything printed to the console after this line is printed using functions and methods that are called from inside classes. \n\n";
tester.MethodInsideTheClass();
int meh;
cin >> meh;
return 0;
}
/* Here is the output of this code when the program runs:
Cylinder 1 Values:
5
10
392.699
Cylinder 1 new surface area once Height is changed:
722.566
Cylinder 2 Values:
5
20.5
722.566
392.699
Everything printed to the console after this line is printed using functions and methods that are called from inside classes.
The below is printed from a function called in a class:
This is the text from the function named: ThisIsAFunction
The below is printed from a static method called in a class:
5261.38
The below is printed from an object's method called in a class:
1.5
*/