c++ unable to change members of array - c++

Question

i am really stuck on following problem:
2 classes:
class Article
{
char* _code;
char* _name;
double _price;
int _quantity;
public:
Article(char* code = "code", char * name = "name", double price = 0){
setCode(code);
setName(name);
_price = price;
_quantity = 0;
}
Article(Article & a){
setCode(a._code);
setName(a._name);
_price = a._price;
_quantity = a._quantity;
}
~Article(){
delete[] _code; _code = nullptr;
delete[] _name; _name = nullptr;
}
/*******SETTERS********/
void setCode(char* code){
int vel = strlen(code);
_code = new char[vel + 1];
strncpy_s(_code, vel + 1, code, _TRUNCATE);
}
void setName(char* name){
int vel = strlen(name);
_name = new char[vel + 1];
strncpy_s(_name, vel + 1, name, _TRUNCATE);
}
void setPrice(double c){ _price = c; }
/*******GETTERS********/
int getquantity(){ return _quantity; }
double getprice(){ return _price; }
//operator =
Article operator = (Article& a){
setName(a._name);
setCode(a._code);
_price = a._price;
_quantity = a._quantity;
return *this;
}
//operator-= decrease qnty for passed value.
bool operator-=(int v){
if (_quantity > v)
{
_quantity = _quantity - v;
return true;
}
cout << "Operacija nije moguca, stanje je manje nego vrijednsot za koju se umanjuje";
return false;
}
// operator ++ increase Qnty for 1.
Article operator++(int){
//Article A(_code, _name, _price);
this->_quantity++;
return *this;
}
//Preklopiti operator -- decrease value for 1.
Article operator--(){
if (_quantity >= 1)
{
_quantity--;
}
return *this;
}
//compare articles based on code.
bool operator==(Article & a){
if (strncmp(_code, a._code, strlen(_code)) == 0)
{
return true;
}
return false;
}
//operator <<
friend ostream & operator<<(ostream & COUT, Article & a);
};
ostream & operator<<(ostream & COUT, Article & a){
COUT << "code: " << a._code << endl << "name: " << a._name << endl << "price: " << a._price << ", Qnty: " << a._quantity << "\n ----------------------- \n\n";
return COUT;
}
class Item
{
Article _Article;
int* _quantity;
public:
Item(Article & a, int quantity) :_Article(a){
_quantity = new int(quantity);
}
Item() :_Article("StavkaR", "nameR", 0){
_quantity = new int(0);
}
Item(Item& s) :_Article(s._Article){
_quantity = new int(*s._quantity);
}
~Item(){
delete _quantity; _quantity = nullptr;
}
int getquantity(){ return *_quantity; }
void setquantity(int v) { *_quantity += v; }
Article getArticle() { return _Article; }
friend ostream & operator << (ostream & COUT, Item & obj);
};
ostream & operator << (ostream & COUT, Item & obj){
COUT << "quantity: " << *obj._quantity << endl << obj._Article;
return COUT;
}
First class is article with constructors, destructs and overloaded operators, second class ITEM is simple it holds article and quantity.
For test in main i have following code:
Article a;
Article b("code", "name", 1.5);
Article c(b);
cout << a;
cout << b;
c++;
c++;
c.setPrice(10);
cout << c;
cout << "\n ************************************** \n";
Item _stavke[100];
for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
_stavke[i].getArticle().setPrice(100);
cout << _stavke[i];
cout << "\n \t\t\t ---- \n";
}
First part of code where i test Article class and some of overloaded operators it works fine but second part where i have Item _stavke[100]; array i can list members of array - no problem but any invoked change is not accepted basicly code
_stavke[i].getArticle().setPrice(100);
does not do anything it seems ...
Can anyone point me where i am going wrong and why i can not change members of array?
Thank you in advance

Answer 1

Your getArticle() call returns _Article by value. That is, a copy of article. Your setPrice() is invoked on the copy, so it is not reflected in the original Item's article, which remains unchanged.