Accessing private functions

[jthep]

I have been given the class definition below:

class llist
{
private:
    record *start;
    char filename[16];
    int readfile();
    int writefile();
    record * reverse(record *);
    void cleanup();
 
public:
    llist( );
    llist(char []);
    ~llist( );
    int addRecord(char[], char[], int, char[]);
    int printRecord(char [ ]);
    int modifyRecord(char[], char[], char[]);
    void printAll();
    int deleteRecord(char []);
    void reverse();
};

From what I know, the only way I can access private members is to create accessor methods for the member variables and use friend for the functions. However, since instructions were given not to make any changes to the class definition, how can I access them?

I thought about calling the readfile() and writefile() functions in the constructor and destructor. But then shouldn't they only be used to initialize member variables and deallocate them?

Regards,
Jthep

[weaknessforcats]

The public functions constitute the class interface. If you are not allowed to chnage the class declaration, then you can't add accessor functions or friend functions. (And, by the way, this not the situation where you use a friend).

Is this some kind of class exercise to hear the sound of one hand clapping??

[jthep]

Yes, we're not allowed to change the class definition without consulting. That's why I called the private function read and write in the constructor, destructor respectively.

[weaknessforcats]

Only the class member functions can call private class member functions. The purpose of the private member function sus usually to provide support to the other member functions.

So, I guess, you are doing what you are supposed to do.