template method instantiation

[robc]

hi,

I wrote a container template similar to that below, assuming that as
long as I never called destroy() for a non-pointer instantiation the
compiler would not attempt to generate that method and I would not get
a compile error. e.g:
ThingMap<int*> intPMap;
intPMap.destroy (); //ok for pointer type

ThingMap<int> intMap;
intPMap.clear() ; //ok because destroy() not called so not
instantiated
// so no attempt to compile delete of int

Indeed, microsoft visual C++, Sun and HP compilers agreed with me and
compiled this OK. But IBM xlC gives a compile error: the "delete"
operator is not allowed for type "int".
So, am I wrong or is xlC wrong? I can work around this easily enough
but am interested to know.

thanks,

rob

#include <map>

template <class T> class ThingMap
{
public:
..
(other methods....)
..
void clear(){ theMap.clear(); }
void destroy()
{
for(stl::map<T> ::iterator it=theMap.begin ();
it!=theMap.end( );++it)
delete it->second;
clear();
}
private:
stl::map<T> theMap;
};

[Jakob Bieling]

"robc" <ro*********@br eathe.com> wrote in message
news:ff******** *************** ***@posting.goo gle.com...

hi,

I wrote a container template similar to that below, assuming that as
long as I never called destroy() for a non-pointer instantiation the
compiler would not attempt to generate that method and I would not get
a compile error. e.g:
ThingMap<int*> intPMap;
intPMap.destroy (); //ok for pointer type

ThingMap<int> intMap;
intPMap.clear() ; //ok because destroy() not called so not
instantiated
// so no attempt to compile delete of int

Indeed, microsoft visual C++, Sun and HP compilers agreed with me and
compiled this OK. But IBM xlC gives a compile error: the "delete"
operator is not allowed for type "int".
So, am I wrong or is xlC wrong? I can work around this easily enough
but am interested to know.

No, you are right. If a member function of a template class is never
used, it is not instantiated.

hth
--
jb

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