accessing members of a templated base class

**Victor Bazarov** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote...[color=blue]
> This code fails to compile on Comeau C++ and VC++ 7.1 (with language
> extensions disabled)
>
> template <class T>
> struct B
> {
> T b;
> };
>
> template <class T>
> struct D : B<T>
> {
> void f() { b = 1; }
> };
>
> int main()
> {
> D<int> x;
> x.f();
> }
>
> Error messages refer to 'b = 1;' with the message 'undefined identifier[/color]
b'.[color=blue]
> Substituting this->b for b or making B a non-template class both make the
> code compile.
>
> What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]

Why do you say "apparently not"? I cannot find anything in the Standard
that would make the look-up of name 'b' in D<T>::f() fail. As far as the
Standard goes, the usual rules of 10.2 should apply. The base class has
to be searched if 'b' is not found in D definition.

14.6/8 says "When looking for the declaration of a name used in a template
definition, the usual lookup rules (3.4.1, 3.4.2) are used for nondependent
names."

3.4.1/8 says "A name used in the definition of a function that is a member
function (9.3)29) of class X shall be declared in one of the following
ways:
- before its use in the block in which it is used or in an enclosing block
(6.3), or
- shall be a member of class X or be a member of a base class of X (10.2),
or ..."

So, "shall be a member of class X or be a member of a base class of X"
should do it. 'b' is a member of the base class.

Well, at least that's how I read it. Perhaps Greg Comeau or other
knowledgeable people will enlighten us both.

Victor

**Victor Bazarov** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote...[color=blue]
> This code fails to compile on Comeau C++ and VC++ 7.1 (with language
> extensions disabled)
>
> template <class T>
> struct B
> {
> T b;
> };
>
> template <class T>
> struct D : B<T>
> {
> void f() { b = 1; }
> };
>
> int main()
> {
> D<int> x;
> x.f();
> }
>
> Error messages refer to 'b = 1;' with the message 'undefined identifier[/color]
b'.[color=blue]
> Substituting this->b for b or making B a non-template class both make the
> code compile.
>
> What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]

Why do you say "apparently not"? I cannot find anything in the Standard
that would make the look-up of name 'b' in D<T>::f() fail. As far as the
Standard goes, the usual rules of 10.2 should apply. The base class has
to be searched if 'b' is not found in D definition.

14.6/8 says "When looking for the declaration of a name used in a template
definition, the usual lookup rules (3.4.1, 3.4.2) are used for nondependent
names."

3.4.1/8 says "A name used in the definition of a function that is a member
function (9.3)29) of class X shall be declared in one of the following
ways:
- before its use in the block in which it is used or in an enclosing block
(6.3), or
- shall be a member of class X or be a member of a base class of X (10.2),
or ..."

So, "shall be a member of class X or be a member of a base class of X"
should do it. 'b' is a member of the base class.

Well, at least that's how I read it. Perhaps Greg Comeau or other
knowledgeable people will enlighten us both.

Victor

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 14:13:59 +0100, "John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>This code fails to compile on Comeau C++ and VC++ 7.1 (with language
>extensions disabled)
>
>template <class T>
>struct B
>{
> T b;
>};
>
>template <class T>
>struct D : B<T>
>{
> void f() { b = 1; }
>};
>
>int main()
>{
> D<int> x;
> x.f();
>}
>
>Error messages refer to 'b = 1;' with the message 'undefined identifier b'.
>Substituting this->b for b or making B a non-template class both make the
>code compile.[/color]

Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)

It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
disabled (/Za).

[color=blue]
>What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]

Apparently it is a compiler bug.

At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 14:13:59 +0100, "John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>This code fails to compile on Comeau C++ and VC++ 7.1 (with language
>extensions disabled)
>
>template <class T>
>struct B
>{
> T b;
>};
>
>template <class T>
>struct D : B<T>
>{
> void f() { b = 1; }
>};
>
>int main()
>{
> D<int> x;
> x.f();
>}
>
>Error messages refer to 'b = 1;' with the message 'undefined identifier b'.
>Substituting this->b for b or making B a non-template class both make the
>code compile.[/color]

Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)

It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
disabled (/Za).

[color=blue]
>What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]

Apparently it is a compiler bug.

At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.

**Pete Becker** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]

Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.
[color=blue]
>
> It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
> disabled (/Za).
>[color=green]
> >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> >assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>
> Apparently it is a compiler bug.
>
> At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.[/color]

Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong. I don't
claim to understand two-phase lookup, but it looks to me like 'b' is a
dependent name. After all, its meaning depends on the defintion of B<T>,
and B<T> can be specialized for various T's. During phase one it has to
be explicitly qualified, in order to tell the compiler that not having a
'b' in B<T> is an error.

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

**Pete Becker** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]

Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.
[color=blue]
>
> It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
> disabled (/Za).
>[color=green]
> >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> >assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>
> Apparently it is a compiler bug.
>
> At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.[/color]

Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong. I don't
claim to understand two-phase lookup, but it looks to me like 'b' is a
dependent name. After all, its meaning depends on the defintion of B<T>,
and B<T> can be specialized for various T's. During phase one it has to
be explicitly qualified, in order to tell the compiler that not having a
'b' in B<T> is an error.

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:12:08 -0400, Pete Becker <petebecker@acm .org> wrote:
[color=blue]
>"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]
>
>Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
>front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.[/color]

I'm pretty sure that I don't have that, since I don't have Comeau,
unless it's used by Visual C++ 7.1.

[color=blue][color=green]
>> It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
>> disabled (/Za).
>>[color=darkred]
>> >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>> >assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>>
>> Apparently it is a compiler bug.
>>
>> At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.[/color]
>
>Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong.[/color]

EDG lists Comeau Computing as one of the compilers (or at least, companies)
that use their front-end.

If that's correct that means it's still just two compilers (or compiler
parts) that reject the code: Visual C++ 7.1 and Comeau.

If Visual C++ 7.1 also uses the EDG front-end then it's just one.

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:12:08 -0400, Pete Becker <petebecker@acm .org> wrote:
[color=blue]
>"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]
>
>Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
>front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.[/color]

I'm pretty sure that I don't have that, since I don't have Comeau,
unless it's used by Visual C++ 7.1.

[color=blue][color=green]
>> It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
>> disabled (/Za).
>>[color=darkred]
>> >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>> >assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>>
>> Apparently it is a compiler bug.
>>
>> At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.[/color]
>
>Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong.[/color]

EDG lists Comeau Computing as one of the compilers (or at least, companies)
that use their front-end.

If that's correct that means it's still just two compilers (or compiler
parts) that reject the code: Visual C++ 7.1 and Comeau.

If Visual C++ 7.1 also uses the EDG front-end then it's just one.

**John Harrison** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

> >[color=blue][color=green]
> > What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> > assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>
> Why do you say "apparently not"?[/color]

Because two apparently unrelated compilers produce effectively identical
error messages. I hadn't considered Alf's suggestion that VC++ 7.1 might use
the EDG front end. However Microsoft aren't on EDG's list of corporate
licensees and you might expect them to make a fuss about it if MS were using
EDG.

john

**John Harrison** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

> >[color=blue][color=green]
> > What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> > assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>
> Why do you say "apparently not"?[/color]

Because two apparently unrelated compilers produce effectively identical
error messages. I hadn't considered Alf's suggestion that VC++ 7.1 might use
the EDG front end. However Microsoft aren't on EDG's list of corporate
licensees and you might expect them to make a fuss about it if MS were using
EDG.

john

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 15:47:03 +0100, "John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> >
>> > What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>> > assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>>
>> Why do you say "apparently not"?[/color]
>
>Because two apparently unrelated compilers produce effectively identical
>error messages. I hadn't considered Alf's suggestion that VC++ 7.1 might use
>the EDG front end. However Microsoft aren't on EDG's list of corporate
>licensees and you might expect them to make a fuss about it if MS were using
>EDG.[/color]

Only about 50% of the licensees are on the public list.

**Alf P. Steinbach** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 15:47:03 +0100, "John Harrison" <john_andronicu s@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> >
>> > What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
>> > assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
>>
>> Why do you say "apparently not"?[/color]
>
>Because two apparently unrelated compilers produce effectively identical
>error messages. I hadn't considered Alf's suggestion that VC++ 7.1 might use
>the EDG front end. However Microsoft aren't on EDG's list of corporate
>licensees and you might expect them to make a fuss about it if MS were using
>EDG.[/color]

Only about 50% of the licensees are on the public list.

**Pete Becker** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=blue]
>
> On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:12:08 -0400, Pete Becker <petebecker@acm .org> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >"Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=darkred]
> >>
> >> Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]
> >
> >Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
> >front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.[/color]
>
> I'm pretty sure that I don't have that, since I don't have Comeau,
> unless it's used by Visual C++ 7.1.
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >> It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
> >> disabled (/Za).
> >>
> >> >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that I
> >> >assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.
> >>
> >> Apparently it is a compiler bug.
> >>
> >> At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should apply.[/color]
> >
> >Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong.[/color]
>
> EDG lists Comeau Computing as one of the compilers (or at least, companies)
> that use their front-end.
>
> If that's correct that means it's still just two compilers (or compiler
> parts) that reject the code: Visual C++ 7.1 and Comeau.
>
> If Visual C++ 7.1 also uses the EDG front-end then it's just one.[/color]

Visual C++ 7.1 does not use the EDG front end. Even if it did, counting
compilers doesn't tell you much. EDG is usually right.

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

**Kristoffer Vinther** · Jul 19 '05, 04:15 PM

Re: accessing members of a templated base class

"Pete Becker" <petebecker@acm .org> wrote in message
news:3F3652B8.D 536748A@acm.org ...[color=blue]
> "Alf P. Steinbach" wrote:[color=green]
> >
> > Am I glad that I haven't even checked whether I _have_ VC 7.1... ;-)[/color]
>
> Are you also glad that you haven't checked whether you have the EDG
> front end? <g> It rejects this code, too.
>[color=green]
> >
> > It compiles just fine with 7.0, with and without language extensions
> > disabled (/Za).
> >[color=darkred]
> > >What's going on here? I was so surprised when I saw this on VC++ that
> > > I assumed it was a compiler bug, but apparently not.[/color]
> >
> > Apparently it is a compiler bug.
> >
> > At least, I agree with Victor that the usual look-up rules should
> > apply.[/color]
>
> Since EDG rejects it, I suspect that the analysis is wrong. I don't
> claim to understand two-phase lookup, but it looks to me like 'b' is a
> dependent name.[/color]

Exactly. Use

template <class T>
struct B
{
T b;
};

template <class T>
struct D : B<T>
{
void f() { B<T>::b = 1; }
};

or perhaps

template <class T>
struct B
{
T b;
};

template <class T>
struct D : B<T>
{
using B<T>::b;
void f() { b = 1; }
};

if you'll be using B's b in many places in D (note, if B's b was protected,
you should probably also make the using decl. protected).

/kv

accessing members of a templated base class

accessing members of a templated base class

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