Overloading the operator=? c++ - c++

Question

I having a trouble trying to insert an object from a class that I created to a char. I create a class name Element as part of a bigger program, but when I try to overloading operator= so that i can get in char variable the char I got in the Element obj nothing work...
Element.h
class Element {
private:
char val;
public:
Element();
Element(char newVal); //check input - throw execption
~Element();
friend ostream& operator<<(ostream& os, const Element& obj);
void setElement(char newVal);
char getElement();
void operator= (const Element newVal);
void operator= (char newVal);
};
Element.cpp
#include "Element.h"
Element::Element()
{
val ='.';
}
Element::Element(char newVal)
{
if (newVal!='X' && newVal!='O'&& newVal!='.'){
inputExecption error;
error.what();
} else{
val=newVal;
}
}
Element::~Element()
{
}
void Element::setElement(char newVal)
{
if (newVal!='X' && newVal!='O'&& newVal!='.'){
inputExecption error;
error.what();
} else{
val=newVal;
}
}
char Element::getElement()
{
return val;
}
ostream& operator<<(ostream& os, const Element& obj)
{
return os << obj.val;
}
void Element::operator= (const Element Value){
val = Value.val;
}
void Element::operator= (char newVal){
if(val != 'X' && val != 'O'){
inputExecption a;
a.what();
}
val = newVal;
}
So as I said, what i'm trying to do is:
Element x='X';
char c = x; //(c=x.val)
cout<<c<<endl;//Will print X
thx! :)

Answer 1

In other words you're trying to convert an object of type Element to an object of type char. You can use a conversion operator for this:
class Element {
// ...
operator char() const { return val; }
};
The assignment operator only works when an instance of Element is used on the left hand side of the assignment.

Answer 2

IMHO, writing an implicit conversion operator (as 0x499602D2 suggested) is not the best idea.
For example, assume you have two separate file something like this:
//File char_utils.hh
#include <iostream>
void accept(char character) { std::cout <<"character: " <<character <<'\n'; }
//File elements_utils.hh
#include <iostream>
void accept(Element const& element) {
std::cout <<"element.getVal(): " <<element.getVal() <<'\n';
}
Then, depending on what you include in your implementation file (char_utils.hh or elements_utils.hh) you will get different behaviour, which may lead to many subtle bugs and/or interesting behaviours. ;)
This can be overcome by declaring conversion operator explicit, i.e.,
explicit operator char() const { return val; }
In such a case, you just need to:
Element e{'x'};
char c = static_cast<char>(e);
which shows the intent more clearly.
However, why do you need using an implicit conversion at all? Especially when you can use Element::getElement()? And if I may suggest, I would use different namin, e.g., Element::getValue(). Element::getElement() is very confusing.
Further reading: https://stackoverflow.com/a/16615725/1877420