forward declaration related problem

[exits funnel]

Hello,

I have the following code:

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
operator B( ) { return B(asInt); }
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};
int main( )
{ }

When I try to compile it my compiler has this to say:

test.cpp:5: parse error before `('
test.cpp:5: syntax error before `('
test.cpp:7: semicolon missing after declaration of `A'
test.cpp:7: parse error at null character
test.cpp: In method `A::A (int)':
test.cpp:4: class `A' does not have any field named `asInt'
test.cpp: At top level:
test.cpp:7: parse error at null character
The problem is obviously that when the compiler hits the reference to B
in A it doesn't yet know anything about A. So I add this:

class B;

to the very beginning of the file and now my compiler rebuts with: test.cpp: In method `A::operator B ()':
test.cpp:7: return type `class B' is incomplete
test.cpp:7: invalid use of undefined type `class B'
test.cpp:1: forward declaration of `class B'

I understand the issue here, but I'm not sure how to solve it. If
anyone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

-exits

[David Fisher]

"exits funnel" <ex*********@NO SPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

Hello,

I have the following code:

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
operator B( ) { return B(asInt); }
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};
int main( )
{ }
.... I understand the issue here, but I'm not sure how to solve it. If
anyone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

You have defined A's operator B() inline; try moving it outside the class
definition, after class B has already been defined:

--- code---
class B;

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0) : asInt(i) {}
operator B( );
private:
int asInt;
};

class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};

A::operator B()
{
return B(asInt);
}
--- end of code ---

David F

[Victor Bazarov]

"exits funnel" <ex*********@NO SPAMyahoo.com> wrote...

I have the following code:

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
operator B( ) { return B(asInt); }
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};
int main( )
{ }

When I try to compile it my compiler has this to say:

test.cpp:5: parse error before `('
test.cpp:5: syntax error before `('
test.cpp:7: semicolon missing after declaration of `A'
test.cpp:7: parse error at null character
test.cpp: In method `A::A (int)':
test.cpp:4: class `A' does not have any field named `asInt'
test.cpp: At top level:
test.cpp:7: parse error at null character

The problem is obviously that when the compiler hits the reference to B
in A it doesn't yet know anything about A. So I add this:

class B;

to the very beginning of the file and now my compiler rebuts with:

test.cpp: In method `A::operator B ()':
test.cpp:7: return type `class B' is incomplete
test.cpp:7: invalid use of undefined type `class B'
test.cpp:1: forward declaration of `class B'

I understand the issue here, but I'm not sure how to solve it. If
anyone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.

Stop putting implementation of the functions in class definition,
move the bodies of 'operator blah()' functions _after_ both A and
B have been defined.

Victor

[exits funnel]

Victor Bazarov wrote:

"exits funnel" <ex*********@NO SPAMyahoo.com> wrote...

I have the following code:

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
operator B( ) { return B(asInt); }
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};
int main( )
{ }

When I try to compile it my compiler has this to say:

test.cpp:5 : parse error before `('
test.cpp:5 : syntax error before `('
test.cpp:7 : semicolon missing after declaration of `A'
test.cpp:7 : parse error at null character
test.cpp: In method `A::A (int)':
test.cpp:4 : class `A' does not have any field named `asInt'
test.cpp: At top level:
test.cpp:7 : parse error at null character

The problem is obviously that when the compiler hits the reference to B
in A it doesn't yet know anything about A. So I add this:

class B;

to the very beginning of the file and now my compiler rebuts with:

test.cpp: In method `A::operator B ()':
test.cpp:7 : return type `class B' is incomplete
test.cpp:7 : invalid use of undefined type `class B'
test.cpp:1 : forward declaration of `class B'

I understand the issue here, but I'm not sure how to solve it. If
anyone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.

Stop putting implementation of the functions in class definition,
move the bodies of 'operator blah()' functions _after_ both A and
B have been defined.

Victor

Thanks David and Victor, that solved my problem. It's always so easy
once someone shows you the answer :)

-exits

[Dave O'Hearn]

exits funnel <ex*********@NO SPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
operator B( ) { return B(asInt); }
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); }
private:
int bsInt;
};

I'm not sure there is any way to solve that with a forward
declaration. But you can just make B do the conversion in both
directions, and A not do either of the conversions,

class A
{
public:
A(int i = 0):asInt(i) { }
friend class B;
private:
int asInt;
};
class B
{
public:
B(int i = 0):bsInt(i) { }
B(A a):bsInt(a.asIn t) { } // convert A to B
operator A( ) { return A(bsInt); } // convert B to A
private:
int bsInt;
};
int main()
{
A a1(0);
B b2 = a1;
A a3 = b2;
B b4 = a3;
}

--
Dave O'Hearn