Call constructor

Hello everyone,


Is it legal and good code to call one constructor from another in the same class? I show the pseudo code below.

Code:

Test(bool param1, bool param2) 
{
	// set and manipulate param1

	// call constructor with a single bool input parameter

	Test (param2);
}

Test(bool param2) : active (param2)
{
	// do something
}

thanks in advance,
George

Instead of showing "pseudo code", write what you think is the real code, and attempt to compile it.

Thanks laserlight,


I have compiled it. The compile error and my code are listed below.

But I do not understand what does the compile error mean -- " error C2082: redefinition of formal parameter 'param2'" and "error C2512: 'Test' : no appropriate default constructor available"?

Code:

class Test {
private:
	bool active;
public:
	
	Test (bool param2) : active (param2)
	{
		// do something
	}

	Test(bool param1, bool param2) 
	{
		// set and manipulate param1

		// call constructor with a single bool input parameter

		Test (param2);
	}

};

1>d:\visual studio 2008\projects\test_20080324\test_20080324\main2.cp p(17) : error C2082: redefinition of formal parameter 'param2'
1>d:\visual studio 2008\projects\test_20080324\test_20080324\main2.cp p(17) : error C2512: 'Test' : no appropriate default constructor available

Originally Posted by laserlight

Instead of showing "pseudo code", write what you think is the real code, and attempt to compile it.

regards,
George

The compiler is interpreting the code as:

Code:

	Test(bool param1, bool param2) 
	{
		// set and manipulate param1

		// call constructor with a single bool input parameter

		Test param2;
	}

Now, it is clear that you are trying to create an object named param2. However, there is a bool parameter named param2, thus you get a "redefinition of formal parameter 'param2'" error. Furthermore, this Test object is created with the default constructor, but there is no default constructor for Test, thus the "no appropriate default constructor available".

Basically, at least under the current C++ Standard, you cannot chain constructor calls, unlike in say, Java.

Thanks laserlight,


Question answered.

Originally Posted by laserlight

The compiler is interpreting the code as:

Code:

	Test(bool param1, bool param2) 
	{
		// set and manipulate param1

		// call constructor with a single bool input parameter

		Test param2;
	}

Now, it is clear that you are trying to create an object named param2. However, there is a bool parameter named param2, thus you get a "redefinition of formal parameter 'param2'" error. Furthermore, this Test object is created with the default constructor, but there is no default constructor for Test, thus the "no appropriate default constructor available".

Basically, at least under the current C++ Standard, you cannot chain constructor calls, unlike in say, Java.

regards,
George