MFC C++ Pointer to function newbie - c++

I have a solution with many projects.
I would like to make a class inside common project that receive array and pointer to function.
This class is a member in other projects on that solution. each project class can hold it as member.
On the constructor of the class inside common, How do i pass the pointer of the function ? how do i set a member inside the common class that holds the location of the function i would like to invoke later on ?
My goal is that i can invoke the function using the pointer - while im in the code of the class that is found in the common project..
Thanks

On the constructor of the class inside common, How do i pass the
pointer of the function ? how do i set a member inside the common
class that holds the location of the function i would like to invoke
later on ?
typedef void(*FUNCPTR)(int);
This defines my function pointer type, but it also restricts the function to the signature below (retuens void and takes 1 int param) you need to define this for your function signature.
void myFunction( int someParam )
{
//DoSomething with someParam
}
class Foo
{
private:
FUNCPTR mFunction; //Holds pointer
public:
Foo( FUNCPTR function) : mFunction(function) {} //Initialise instance
void callFunc() {mFunction(1);} //call function
};
int main(unsigned int argc, const char** argv)
{
Foo myFoo(myFunction);
myFoo.callFunc();
}
In C++ you might well be better however thinking about using function objects in which you create an object and define an operator() which takes the correct parameters and return type but would allow you all the flexibility of objects and polymorphism....
See C++ Functors - and their uses for some discussion and detail

Related

c++ handling function pointer across super/base class

I have a template defined class that handles processing of all the different methods. these methods vary or can be grouped based on type of execution im doing. so I am going to inherit the super class processing attributes but define all the different methods that needs to be processed.
I have function pointer mismatch error. could anyone suggest a solution for this issue
template <class T_ENUM>
class Injection
{
public:
Injection();
~Injection();
virtual void addAllCalls( void );
bool addCall( T_ENUM );
protected:
void* data; // drive of device under test
struct call_info {
T_ENUM call_ref;
string time_stamp;
};
// class specific function pointer defenition
// call_status_s is defined struct
typedef void (Injection::*funcType)(call_status_s*);
// map contains all calls initialized and ready to be processed
std::map<T_ENUM, funcType> func_call_map;
// here i process the function pointer based on the T_ENUM
bool processCall ( T_ENUM );
virtual void initCallMap( void );
// initialise the functions taken from child class and store here
};
class Type_Injection : public Injection<enum_defined_for_Type> {
public:
void addAllCalls( void );
private:
void initCallMap ( void );
// would initialise func_call_map with the functions pointer of TypeFunction1
// this is the function im going to save as pointers in the list defined in super class
void TypeFunction1 ( call_status_s* );
};
compile error:
error: cannot convert ‘void (Type_Injection::*)(call_status_s*)’ to
‘void (Injection<enum_defined_for_Type>::*)(call_status_s*)’ in
assignment
Again sorry could not add the complete code.
This isn't typesafe, because you have a (hidden) covariant parameter.
The actual function Type_Injection::TypeFunction1 requires a this argument of type Type_Injection. But the call site is only providing an Injection<enum_defined_for_type> and not every instance of the latter actually is one of the former.
It may be that the actual parameter always is of the more derived type, in which case you can use a cast to override the compiler type checking. But I would just use std::function<void (call_status_s*)> instead, and use std::bind when adding the callbacks to the map to specify the target object (assuming that the target object is always the class instance holding the map, and does not vary at call time).
typedef std::function<void (call_status_s*)> funcType;
// map contains all calls initialized and ready to be processed
std::map<T_ENUM, funcType> func_call_map;
void Type_Injection::initCallMap ( void ) override
{
using std::placeholders::_1;
func_call_map[T_ENUM_FUNCTION1] = std::bind(&Type_Injection::TypeFunction1, this, _1);
}
In your particular case, another option is just to make your processCall function that takes in the T_ENUM selector virtual (shouldn't it also accept the call_status_s* function argument to pass to the function being called?). In the derived class, you can use a switch statement to map T_ENUM values to functions in the derived class. This is very efficient, perfectly typesafe, and can delegate to the base class when the value doesn't match/isn't known, to allow different behaviors to be implemented in different levels of the class hierarchy. Unlike a map this only allows lookup, so if iteration is a requirement the map of std::function would be a better option.
Another option is the "Curiously Recurring Template Pattern", which allows the derived class to inform the base class of the real type of the object, so that the map can contain void (DerivedType::*)(call_status_s*) function pointers. But this removes the ability to have behaviors provided at multiple levels of the call tree.

function pointers between classes

I am having difficulty getting my head around how to pass a class member function to a subclass (not derived).
My top level class is like this:
class CTop
{
public:
CTop();
int func1(void);
private:
CFnList* _funcList;
};
CTop::CTop():
_funcList(0)
{
_funcList = new CFnList();
_funcList->addFnPtrToList(0, &CTop::func1);
}
int CTop::func1(void)
{
// Does some stuff...
}
My function list class is like this:
class CFnList
{
public:
// Public functions
CFnList();
void addFnPtrToList(int index, int (*fn)(void));
private:
// Fn pointer list
typedef struct
{
int index;
int (*fn) (void);
}fn_list_t;
// function pointer list
QVector<fn_list_t> _fn_list;
};
So basically here I have an instance of class CTop and one of its members is a pointer to a class CFnList. CFnList pointer is instantiated in the constructor of CTop. Then I want to pass in a pointer to one of CTop's member functions to CFnList by calling the following line:
"_funcList->addFnPtrToList(0, &CTop::func1);"
I get issue (quite rightly) that addFnPtrToList does not take the parameters (int, (CTop::*)()). So the compiler knows this function is a certain member function and not just a generic (maybe static) function.
Is there a way to pass the a pointer to the member function into the sub-class? In my case I want the sub-class to be able to call this function. I am thinking I probably have to make static member functions or something, but the syntax is eluding me on how to do this.
All help / advise appreciated.
Fodder
CTop::func1 is a member function. &CTop::func1 is NOT a function pointer, it is a pointer to member (function). Those can not be mixed either in storing or calling. it is not compatible with int (*fn)(void), as the latter takes no arguments and the former requires an object that is passed as the hidden this.
For these reasons you can't have a simple but uniform facility. You either can go with simple function pointers, or pairs of PTM+object pointer, or use wrappers -- handmade or stock like boost::function fueled by boost::bind. If you have C++11 or TR1 you can use the std:: equivalents of the latter.
A declaration in the form:
int (*fn)(void)
cannot point to a member function. It can only point to a free function. Philispophically, this is because the calling conventions for member functions are different then that for free functions. Consider for example the need for a this pointer in the context of a member function call.
The syntax for declaring a pointer-to-member-function is like this:
int (CTop::*fn)(void)
There is an entire section in the C++ FAQ dedicated to member function pointers. Check it out.
You are passing the member function as if it were a regular function. That fails to include the 'this' reference to the class. In order to pass member functions, you have to be able to re-reference it from the original 'this'. Take a look at the following, instead.
typedef void (CTop::*OBJFNC)(args);
_funcList = new CFnList();
_funcList->addFnPtrToList(0, this, &CTop::func1);
void addFnPtrToList(int index, CTop* pobj, OBJFNC pfnc)
{ ... Store both ...
}
Now elsewhere you can execute it with the following.
(pobj->*pfnc)(args);
Here is the final solution, it uses a mixture of passing the instance of the object CTop and usage of template class for CFnList:
My top level class is like this (more or less the same except for the declaration of _funcList to includes the class type and to pass in the "this" to the constructor:
class CTop
{
public:
CTop();
int func1(void);
private:
CFnList<CTop>* _funcList;
};
CTop::CTop():
_funcList(0)
{
_funcList = new CFnList(this);
_funcList->addFnPtrToList(0, &CTop::func1);
}
int CTop::func1(void)
{
// Does some stuff...
}
My function list class is like this:
template<class T>
class CFnList
{
public:
// Public functions
CFnList(T *parent);
void addFnPtrToList(int index, int (T::*fn)(void));
private:
// Pointer to the parent (or owner is perhaps more correct)
T* _parent;
// Fn pointer list
typedef struct
{
int index;
int (T::*fn) (void);
}fn_list_t;
// function pointer list
QVector<fn_list_t> _fn_list;
};
// Constructor
template <class T>
CFnList<T>::CFnList(T *parent) :
_parent(parent),
_fn_list(0)
{
}
// addFnPtrToList:
template <class T>
void CFnList<T>::addFnPtrToList(int index, int (T::*fn)(void))
{
_fn_list.append((fn_list_t){index, fn});
}
So the major changes are:
1. Pass the CTop type in by using changing CFnList into a template.
2. Pass in the instance of the object CTop (so that the pointer to the function can be called) by passing "this" into the constructor and then template class stores it as a pointer to the given template type.... vio-la!...easy :o
Thanks to all who contributed :))

Two Classes (A,B) - B to have a pointer to class A non-static method

I have two classes that don't know anything about themselfs class A, class B.
Class A is called the ENGINE,
Class B is called the GUI.
I want GUI class to have a pointer to a function in class ENGINE, so that when an event occurs on GUIControl, it calls ENGINE member function with two parameters (int,int).
Here's how i would like to have it:
class CGUIManager
{
public:
void SetControlCallback(void(*pFunctionPointer)(int,int) );
private:
void (*m_pControlCallbackFunction)(int,int) ;
};
void CGUIManager::SetControlCallback(void(*pFunctionPointer)(int,int) )
{
if(pFunctionPointer)
m_pControlCallbackFunction = pFunctionPointer;
}
class CEngine
{
private:
void GUIControlsCallback(int iControlID, int iControlMessage);
CGUIManager *pGUI;
};
Now while initializing ENGINE, i want to call:
//Set Controls Callback to CEngine Method
pGUI->SetControlsCallback( GUIControlsCallback );
To register a callback within CGUIManager class, that points to a method in CEngine class.
How can i do that?
Thanks in advance.
I would suggest using an interface (or something like that) if you would like it to be oo instead of function pointers ( which must point to a static member btw )
class IGuiCallback
{
public:
virtual void GUIControlsCallback(int iControlID, int iControlMessage)=0;
};
class CGUIManager
{
public:
void SetControlCallback(IGuiCallback*);
private:
IGuiCallback* m_pCallback;
};
class CEngine:public IGuiCallback
{
public:
void GUIControlsCallback(int iControlID, int iControlMessage);
private:
CGUIManager *pGUI;
};
then in engine:
pGUI->SetCallback(this);
There may be some syntax errors in my code but you should get the picture
Pointers-to-member-functions are not function pointers in C++.
To call your callback later (using provided SetControlsCallback signature), the caller need to have a valid instance of CEngine. You can achieve that by binding the pointer to CEngine to GUIControlsCallback:
CEngine* pEngine; // initialized somewhere
pGUI->SetControlsCallback(std::bind1st(pEngine, GUIControlsCallback));
If you use Boost or C++11, you'd better use their versions of bindings (boost::bind or std::bind respectively).
The easiest approach is to use std::function<void(int, int) as the type of the registered callback: this object can be used to call any function [object] which is callable with two ints. In particular, it could call the member function CEngine::GUIControlsCallback(int, int) which actually has three parameters:
the two obvious parameter to the member function of type int
the implicit pointer to the object (which becomes this)
The way this is done is to construct a function object which provides as first parameter a pointer to the CEngine object and takes two integers:
struct CEngine_bind {
CEngine_bind(CEngine* engine): engine_(engine) {}
void operator()(int i0, int i1) { this->engine_->GUIControlsCallback(i0, i1); }
CEngine* engine_;
};
Alternatively, you can use std:bind() which is a create a suitably bound function:
CEngine engine; // ... wherever this object is coming from)
std::function<void(int, int)> callback(std::bind(&CEngine::GUIControlsCallback, &engine,
std::placeholders::_1, std::placeholders::_2));
... and then set the callback object as the callback. This object simply be called passing two integer parameters which will cause the member function on the referenced object to be called:
callback(10, 20);
would call
engine.GUIControlsCallback(10, 20);
The std::function<void(int, int)> is copyable, i.e. you can easily store it in your CGUIManager class.
If you are able to change the interface of the CGUIManager class, I ssugest you generalise it to use boost::function<void(int, int)> (or std::function if writing in C++11) instead of a function pointer.
If you can't, unfortunately you are a victim of bad design. C-style callbacks that use function pointers usually allow for some kind of void* user data parameter to carry any additional information bound to the callback - in this case the your CEngine pointer could be cast to void* and a free function wrapper could be written to cast the void* back to CEngine. However, if you are able to change the callback interface, using boost/STL function is a superior technique.

C++: Function pointer to another class function

I have 2 classes
class B {
public:
int func(int i);
};
class A {
public:
typedef int (B::*fPtr)(int);
void run();
B* mB;
};
void A::run() {
// create a pointer
fPtr p = &(B::func);
// invoke the function
mB->*p(2); <------- Compilation Error
}
What i need is to create a pointer to func() in A's run function. I get a compilation error saying that mB is not corresponding to a function with 1 argument.
please help
You need to put parentheses around the function expression:
(mB->*p)(2);
But as others have pointed out, there's almost certainly a better way to do what you're trying to do.
Instance methods on a class always have a hidden first parameter for the this pointer, thus it is incompatible with your function pointer typedef. There is no way directly to obtain a pointer to a member function. The typical workaround is to use a "thunk" where you pass a static function that accepts a generic "catch all" parameter (such as void *) which can be statically cast to a pointer of your choosing on which you can invoke the member function. Example:
class B
{
public:
static void MyThunk(void * obj)
{
static_cast<B *>(obj)->MyRealFunc();
}
void MyRealFunc()
{
// do something here
}
// . . .
};
You can get a pointer to the static function easily as it has no 'hidden this', just reference it using B::MyThunk. If your function requires additional parameters, you can use something like a functor to capture the necesssary parameters and state.
You should definitely read this C++ FAQ Lite page which tells you much more about all this: Pointers to member functions
why can you not call mB->func(2);?
If you need different functions for B perhaps look into virtual functions and class inheritance

Calling a C++ function pointer on a specific object instance

I have a function pointer defined by:
typedef void (*EventFunction)(int nEvent);
Is there a way to handle that function with a specific instance of a C++ object?
class A
{
private:
EventFunction handler;
public:
void SetEvent(EventFunction func) { handler = func; }
void EventOne() { handler(1); }
};
class B
{
private:
A a;
public:
B() { a.SetEvent(EventFromA); } // What do I do here?
void EventFromA(int nEvent) { // do stuff }
};
Edit: Orion pointed out the options that Boost offers such as:
boost::function<int (int)> f;
X x;
f = std::bind1st(
std::mem_fun(&X::foo), &x);
f(5); // Call x.foo(5)
Unfortunately Boost is not an option for me. Is there some sort of "currying" function that can be written in C++ that will do this kind of wrapping of a pointer to a member function in to a normal function pointer?
You can use function pointers to index into the vtable of a given object instance. This is called a member function pointer. Your syntax would need to change to use the ".*" and the "&::" operators:
class A;
class B;
typedef void (B::*EventFunction)(int nEvent)
and then:
class A
{
private:
EventFunction handler;
public:
void SetEvent(EventFunction func) { handler = func; }
void EventOne(B* delegate) { ((*delegate).*handler)(1); } // note: ".*"
};
class B
{
private:
A a;
public:
B() { a.SetEvent(&B::EventFromA); } // note: "&::"
void EventFromA(int nEvent) { /* do stuff */ }
};
Run away from raw C++ function pointers, and use std::function instead.
You can use boost::function if you are using an old compiler such as visual studio 2008 which has no support for C++11.
boost:function and std::function are the same thing - they pulled quite a bit of boost stuff into the std library for C++11.
Note: you may want to read the boost function documentation instead of the microsoft one as it's easier to understand
I highly recommend Don Clugston's excellent FastDelegate library. It provides all the things you'd expect of a real delegate and compiles down to a few ASM instructions in most cases. The accompanying article is a good read on member function pointers as well.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cpp/FastDelegate.aspx
You may find C++ FAQ by Marshall Cline helpful to what you're trying to accomplish.
Read about pointers to members.
To call a method on the derived class, the method has to be declared in the base class as virtual and overriden in the base class and your pointer should point to the base class method. More about pointers to virtual members.
If you're interfacing with a C library, then you can't use a class member function without using something like boost::bind. Most C libraries that take a callback function usually also allow you to pass an extra argument of your choosing (usually of type void*), which you can use to bootstrap your class, as so:
class C
{
public:
int Method1(void) { return 3; }
int Method2(void) { return x; }
int x;
};
// This structure will hold a thunk to
struct CCallback
{
C *obj; // Instance to callback on
int (C::*callback)(void); // Class callback method, taking no arguments and returning int
};
int CBootstrapper(CCallback *pThunk)
{
// Call the thunk
return ((pThunk->obj) ->* (pThunk->callback))( /* args go here */ );
}
void DoIt(C *obj, int (C::*callback)(void))
{
// foobar() is some C library function that takes a function which takes no arguments and returns int, and it also takes a void*, and we can't change it
struct CCallback thunk = {obj, callback};
foobar(&CBootstrapper, &thunk);
}
int main(void)
{
C c;
DoIt(&c, &C::Method1); // Essentially calls foobar() with a callback of C::Method1 on c
DoIt(&c, &C::Method2); // Ditto for C::Method2
}
Unfortunately, the EventFunction type cannot point to a function of B, because it is not the correct type. You could make it the correct type, but that probably isn't really the solution you want:
typedef void (*B::EventFunction)(int nEvent);
... and then everything works once you call the callback with an obhect of B. But you probably want to be able to call functions outside of B, in other classes that do other things. That is sort of the point of a callback. But now this type points to something definitely in B. More attractive solutions are:
Make B a base class, then override a virtual function for each other class that might be called. A then stores a pointer to B instead of a function pointer. Much cleaner.
If you don't want to bind the function to a specific class type, even a base class (and I wouldn't blame you), then I suggest you make the function that gets called a static function: "static void EventFrom A(int nEvent);". Then you can call it directly, without an object of B. But you probably want it to call a specific instance of B (unless B is a singleton).
So if you want to be able to call a specific instance of B, but be able to call non-B's, too, then you need to pass something else to your callback function so that the callback function can call the right object. Make your function a static, as above, and add a void* parameter which you will make a pointer to B.
In practice you see two solutions to this problem: ad hoc systems where you pass a void* and the event, and hierarchies with virtual functions in a base class, like windowing systems
You mention that boost isn't an option for you, but do you have TR1 available to you?
TR1 offers function, bind, and mem_fn objects based on the boost library, and you may already have it bundled with your compiler. It isn't standard yet, but at least two compilers that I've used recently have had it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_Report_1
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb982702.aspx
It's somewhat unclear what you're trying to accomplish here. what is clear is that function pointers is not the way.
maybe what you're looking for is pointer to method.
I have a set of classes for this exact thing that I use in my c++ framework.
http://code.google.com/p/kgui/source/browse/trunk/kgui.h
How I handle it is each class function that can be used as a callback needs a static function that binds the object type to it. I have a set of macros that do it automatically. It makes a static function with the same name except with a "CB_" prefix and an extra first parameter which is the class object pointer.
Checkout the Class types kGUICallBack and various template versions thereof for handling different parameters combinations.
#define CALLBACKGLUE(classname , func) static void CB_ ## func(void *obj) {static_cast< classname *>(obj)->func();}
#define CALLBACKGLUEPTR(classname , func, type) static void CB_ ## func(void *obj,type *name) {static_cast< classname *>(obj)->func(name);}
#define CALLBACKGLUEPTRPTR(classname , func, type,type2) static void CB_ ## func(void *obj,type *name,type2 *name2) {static_cast< classname *>(obj)->func(name,name2);}
#define CALLBACKGLUEPTRPTRPTR(classname , func, type,type2,type3) static void CB_ ## func(void *obj,type *name,type2 *name2,type3 *name3) {static_cast< classname *>(obj)->func(name,name2,name3);}
#define CALLBACKGLUEVAL(classname , func, type) static void CB_ ## func(void *obj,type val) {static_cast< classname *>(obj)->func(val);}