request for member of non-class type

[ztycho]

Could someone explain if the following gcc 4.1 compile error is
working as designed and, if so, why does the second version of the
code not fail?

Failing case:
======================================
struct A
{
int GetId() const;
};

struct B
{
A& GetElement() const;
};

template<typename T>
int function(const B& b, const T&)
{
return dynamic_cast<const A&>(b.GetElement()).GetId();
}

test.cpp: In function 'int function(const B&, const T&)':
test.cpp:14: error: request for member 'GetId' in 'dynamic_cast<const
A&>(b->B::GetElement())', which is of non-class type 'const A&'
=========================================

Working case:
=========================================
struct A
{
int GetId() const;
};

struct B
{
A& GetElement() const;
};

template<typename T>
int function(const B& b, const T&)
{
const A& element = dynamic_cast<const A&>(b.GetElement());
return element.GetId();
}
=========================================
Any help would be appreciated

[joseph cook]

On Aug 11, 4:39*pm, ztycho <[e-mail]:

template<typename T>
int function(const B& b, const T&)
{
* * const A& element = dynamic_cast<const A&>(b.GetElement());
* * return element.GetId();}

=========================================

Any help would be appreciated

Could this be related?
http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34364