Polymorphism problem with virtual functions ...

[Jonas Huckestein]

Hello,

I have the following problem: I have one BaseClass, which defines the
virtual functions getValue(int index) and virtually overloads the operators
*, /, -, +. Now I want two classes SubClass1 and SubClass2 which extend the
BaseClass and implement the virtual functions, so that I can go like this:

BaseClass *oskar = new SubClass1;
BaseClass *newton = new SubClass2;
BaseClass *pete = oskar*newton+ne wton/oskar;

Is there a way I can accomplish this? Somehow I can't even get the easiest
situation straight, in which I have only two classes and 1 virtual
function:

class BaseClass {
public:
virtual int getValue( int index );
};

class SubClass1 : public BaseClass {
int getValue( int index ) { return 1; };
};

....

int main() {
BaseClass* oskar = new SubClass1;
cout << oskar->getValue(4); // supposed to be 1
delete oskar;
}

Now the compiler tells me: "undefined reference to `vtable for BaseClass'"
and "undefined reference to `typeinfo for BaseClass'"

I use g++-4.1. as a compiler, although I suppose the problem is due to my
lack of understandding C++ ...

Thanks in advance and greetings from Germany,
Jonas

[ruka_at_]

On 12 Feb., 12:15, Jonas Huckestein <Jonas.Huckest. [e-mail]:

Hello,

I have the following problem: I have one BaseClass, which defines the
virtual functions getValue(int index) and virtually overloads the operators
*, /, -, +. Now I want two classes SubClass1 and SubClass2 which extend the
BaseClass and implement the virtual functions, so that I can go like this:

BaseClass *oskar = new SubClass1;
BaseClass *newton = new SubClass2;
BaseClass *pete = oskar*newton+ne wton/oskar;

Is there a way I can accomplish this? Somehow I can't even get the easiest
situation straight, in which I have only two classes and 1 virtual
function:

class BaseClass {
public:
virtual int getValue( int index );

};

either make the method pure virtual, like this:
virtual int getValue( int index )=0;
or provide a body:
virtual int getValue( int index ){return 0;}
lg Rudi

[=?iso-8859-1?q?Erik_Wikstr=F6m?=]

On Feb 12, 12:15 pm, Jonas Huckestein <Jonas.Huckest. [e-mail]:

Hello,

I have the following problem: I have one BaseClass, which defines the
virtual functions getValue(int index) and virtually overloads the operators
*, /, -, +. Now I want two classes SubClass1 and SubClass2 which extend the
BaseClass and implement the virtual functions, so that I can go like this:

BaseClass *oskar = new SubClass1;
BaseClass *newton = new SubClass2;
BaseClass *pete = oskar*newton+ne wton/oskar;

Note that this will not do what you want it to do. This will perform
arithmetic operations with the pointers and not with the objects, you
have to dereference the pointers first:

BaseClass *pete = *oskar * (*newton) + *newton / *oskar;

And unless SubClass + SubClass returns a pointer you should use

BaseClass *pete = new SubClass(*oskar * (*newton) + *newton / *oskar);

It would probably be easier to use references/local variables instead.

--
Erik Wikström

[Rolf Magnus]

Jonas Huckestein wrote:

Hello,

I have the following problem: I have one BaseClass, which defines the
virtual functions getValue(int index) and virtually overloads the
operators *, /, -, +.

Making those operators virtual is most often not useful.

Now I want two classes SubClass1 and SubClass2 which extend the BaseClass
and implement the virtual functions, so that I can go like this:

BaseClass *oskar = new SubClass1;
BaseClass *newton = new SubClass2;
BaseClass *pete = oskar*newton+ne wton/oskar;

Is there a way I can accomplish this? Somehow I can't even get the easiest
situation straight, in which I have only two classes and 1 virtual
function:

class BaseClass {
public:
virtual int getValue( int index );
};

That class is missing a virtual destructor, so the result of your delete in
main is undefined.

class SubClass1 : public BaseClass {
int getValue( int index ) { return 1; };
};

...

int main() {
BaseClass* oskar = new SubClass1;
cout << oskar->getValue(4); // supposed to be 1
delete oskar;
}

Now the compiler tells me: "undefined reference to `vtable for BaseClass'"
and "undefined reference to `typeinfo for BaseClass'"

I use g++-4.1. as a compiler, although I suppose the problem is due to my
lack of understandding C++ ...

Except for the non-virtual destructor, your code is ok, so it must be
something else.

Thanks in advance and greetings from Germany,

Greetings back from Germany ;-)