Error : expected primary-expression before '.' token - c++

Question

Ok so I'm having trouble with this C++ program I am supposed to do for school and I need some help with an error I keep getting. I have the basics but I need help with classes and objects.
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
class BankAccount {
private:
double accountBalance;
string name;
public:
BankAccount();
BankAccount(string,double);
double deposit(double);
double withdraw(double);
void checkBalance();
};
BankAccount::BankAccount()
{
accountBalance=0;
name="";
}
BankAccount::BankAccount(string name,double money)
{
name=name;
accountBalance=accountBalance;
}
double BankAccount::deposit(double money)
{
accountBalance+=money;
return accountBalance;
}
double BankAccount::withdraw(double money)
{
accountBalance-=money;
return accountBalance;
};
void BankAccount::checkBalance()
{
cout<<"The balance on the account is $"<<accountBalance<<"!!"<<endl;
};
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
int c;
double m;
string n;
cout<<"==================Bank======="<<endl;
cout<<"[1] Open a new Bank Account |"<<endl;
cout<<"[2] Deposit money |"<<endl;
cout<<"[3] Withdraw money |"<<endl;
cout<<"[4] Check balance |"<<endl;
cout<<"============================="<<endl;
cout<<endl;
cout<<"What would you like to do :";
cin>>c;
switch (c){
case 1:
cout<<"Ok I see you want to open a new Bank Account"<<endl;
cout<<"But first answer a few questions:"<<endl;
cout<<"What is your name? ";
cin>>n;
cout<<"Next tell me the amount of money you wish to open your account with: ";
cin>>m;
BankAccount::BankAccount(n,m);
cout<<"OK all set, "<<n<<"!!"<<endl;
break;
case 2:
cout<<"How much money would you like to deposit? : ";
cin>>m;
BankAccount.deposit(m);
break;
case 3:
cout<<"How much money would you like to withdraw? : ";
cin>>m;
BankAccount.withdraw(m);
break;
case 4:
cout<<"OK I'll check your balance"<<endl;
BankAccount.checkBalance();
break;
}
system("PAUSE");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
So if you could help me that would be very much appreciated.

Answer 1

BankAccount is a type name, not a variable name. You cannot invoke instance methods on a type.
Create a variable of type BankAccount, assign it an instance, and then call methods on the instance using the same notation that you already have:
BankAccount acct;
switch (c){
case 1:
cout<<"Ok I see you want to open a new Bank Account"<<endl;
cout<<"But first answer a few questions:"<<endl;
cout<<"What is your name? ";
cin>>n;
cout<<"Next tell me the amount of money you wish to open your account with: ";
cin>>m;
acct = BankAccount(n,m);
cout<<"OK all set, "<<n<<"!!"<<endl;
break;
case 2:
cout<<"How much money would you like to deposit? : ";
cin>>m;
acct.deposit(m);
break;
case 3:
cout<<"How much money would you like to withdraw? : ";
cin>>m;
acct.withdraw(m);
break;
case 4:
cout<<"OK I'll check your balance"<<endl;
acct.checkBalance();
break;
}

Answer 2

BankAccount is a class you defined, you cannot use :: operator to access non-static members of that class. In this case, you need to first create an object of BankAccount, then using dot operator to access the deposit and other member functions since those non-static member functions are associated with instance of the class.
If deposit and other relevant functions are static member function, you can do that.