Does this class look fine?

Code:

#ifndef FILEIODATA_H
#define FILEIODATA_H

template <class T>
class FileIOData {
	
public:

	FileIOData() {};
	
	bool WriteToFile (std::ostream& out, T& data)
	{
		out << data;	
		return out.fail();
	}

	bool ReadFromFile (std::istream& in, T& data)
	{
		in >> data;	
		return in.fail();
	}
};

#endif 

Will handle all the file reads/writes for all my classes

Why is it a class to begin with? It looks like they are better off as free functions, possibly within a namespace (if they exist at all, since they are almost the same as just using operator<< and operator>> directly, unless you have say, some logging functionality that is not yet implemented). Also, note that WriteToFile should take a const reference since it does not modify data.

Originally Posted by laserlight

Why is it a class to begin with? It looks like they are better off as free functions, possibly within a namespace (if they exist at all, since they are almost the same as just using operator<< and operator>> directly, unless you have say, some logging functionality that is not yet implemented). Also, note that WriteToFile should take a const reference since it does not modify data.

Using this example, how do i declare them in a namespace? please show

Just for silly sake, would this work?

Code:

// Class IOData: Handles the input/ouput of data to files

#ifndef FILEIODATA_H
#define FILEIODATA_H

template <class T>
class FileIOData {
	
public:

	FileIOData(T& obj)  {
		setClassObj<T>(obj);
	}
	
	~FileIOData() {};
	
	bool WriteToFile (std::ostream& out)
	{
		out << classObject;	
		return out.fail();
	}

	bool ReadFromFile (std::istream& in)
	{
		in >> classObject;	
		return in.fail();
	}

	T getClassObj() {
		return classObject;
	}

	void setClassObj(T obj) {
		classObject = obj;
	}

private:
	T  classObject;
};

#endif

Using this example, how do i declare them in a namespace?

Something like this:

Code:

#ifndef FILEIODATA_H
#define FILEIODATA_H

#include <ostream>
#include <istream>

namespace FileIOData
{
    template<typename T>
    bool WriteToFile(std::ostream& out, const T& data)
    {
        out << data;
        return out.fail();
    }

    template<typename T>
    bool ReadFromFile(std::istream& in, T& data)
    {
        in >> data;
        return in.fail();
    }
}

#endif

Just for silly sake, would this work?

Test before asking.

Originally Posted by laserlight

Something like this:

Code:

#ifndef FILEIODATA_H
#define FILEIODATA_H

#include <ostream>
#include <istream>

namespace FileIOData
{
    template<typename T>
    bool WriteToFile(std::ostream& out, const T& data)
    {
        out << data;
        return out.fail();
    }

    template<typename T>
    bool ReadFromFile(std::istream& in, T& data)
    {
        in >> data;
        return in.fail();
    }
}
#endif

Is this a .h file or .cpp? or doesn't matter ...

Test before asking.

I think i shouldn't have said silly sake, then u wud have given me a diff ans , anyway, was asking the syntax ... but will go the namespace route ...thnx

That would be the header file (since they're templates!)...

Originally Posted by Elysia

That would be the header file (since they're templates!)...

And this?

Code:

#ifndef VALIDATOR_H
#define VALIDATOR_H

#include <boost/regex.hpp>
#include <string>

namespace Validator
{
	// Validate RSA land line number 
	bool landLineValidator(const std::string& lndln)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("(0|\\+27)[1234][123][-| ]+"
			"[0-9]{3}[-| ]+([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(lndln, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA cell/toll-free number 
	bool cellNoValidator(const std::string& cn)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("(0|\\+27)[78]([01234]|[68])[-| ]+"
			"[0-9]{3}[-| ]+([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(cn, e);
	}

	// Validate string not containing numbers 
	bool stringValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
	   static const boost::regex e("^[a-zA-Z ]+$");
	   return regex_match(s, e);
	}

	// Validate string containing numbers 
	bool mixedStringValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
	   static const boost::regex e("^[a-zA-Z0-9  ]+$");
	   return regex_match(s, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA postal code 
	bool postalCodeValidator(const std::string& c)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("^([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(c, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA char/digit value
	int charValidator(const char& c)
	{
		return isdigit(c); 
	}

	// Validate the rental type
	int rentalTypeValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
		return !( s.compare("Unlimited") && s.compare("200km") );
	}
}

Originally Posted by csonx_p

And this?

Reason i asked this question is you saying "since they are templates", so does that mean if its not a template then i shouldn't make a namespace a .h file ?

Header files typically contain namespaces and class declarations; you can always identify header files through the .h or .hpp suffix. However, templates are somewhat special in that template classes cannot be separated from their declarations. There are some hacks around that limitation, though you'll have to read to find out what they are, and it's not always worth the effort to do that.

Reason i asked this question is you saying "since they are templates", so does that mean if its not a template then i shouldn't make a namespace a .h file ?

A namespace is a namespace, not a file. Likewise, a class is a class, not a file, and a template is a template, not a file.

Typically, we would place a class definition in a header file and then place the class implementation in a source file. In the case of templates, we would typically just use header files. A namespace can be closed and then re-opened; it is just a way of grouping names. Consequently, you might place the definition of a class within a namespace in a header file, or place the declaration of a free function within a namespace in a header file.

...

I think the confusion about namespaces and header files come from the common statement of "do not put using namespace XXX" in a header file. Which you shouldn't.

If for some reason you want use namespaces for a particular group of functions, variables, type declaraions or constants, then you put "namespace somename" around the those things. If you have another group of things you want in another namespace, then you put another namespace around those. As many as you think makes sense. Commonly, you wouldn't put more than one namespace group in one header file, but there's nothing saying you CAN NOT do that.

--
Mats

Originally Posted by matsp

I think the confusion about namespaces and header files come from the common statement of "do not put using namespace XXX" in a header file. Which you shouldn't.

If for some reason you want use namespaces for a particular group of functions, variables, type declaraions or constants, then you put "namespace somename" around the those things. If you have another group of things you want in another namespace, then you put another namespace around those. As many as you think makes sense. Commonly, you wouldn't put more than one namespace group in one header file, but there's nothing saying you CAN NOT do that.

--
Mats

I'm having problems linking this namespace

Code:

#ifndef VALID_H
#define VALID_H

#include <boost/regex.hpp>
#include <string>
#include <time.h>

#define YR_OLD 2

namespace valid
{
	/* Validate RSA ID number */
	bool driverIDValidator(const std::string& id)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("^[0-9]{6}[0-9]{4}[0-9]{3}$");
		return regex_match(id, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA land line number 
	bool landLineValidator(const std::string& lndln)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("(0|\\+27)[1234][123][-| ]+"
			"[0-9]{3}[-| ]+([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(lndln, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA cell/toll-free number 
	bool cellNoValidator(const std::string& cn)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("(0|\\+27)[78]([01234]|[68])[-| ]+"
			"[0-9]{3}[-| ]+([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(cn, e);
	}

	// Validate string not containing numbers 
	bool stringValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
	   static const boost::regex e("^[a-zA-Z ]+$");
	   return regex_match(s, e);
	}

	// Validate string containing numbers 
	bool mixedStringValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
	   static const boost::regex e("^[a-zA-Z0-9  ]+$");
	   return regex_match(s, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA postal code 
	bool postalCodeValidator(const std::string& c)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("^([0-9]{4})$");
		return regex_match(c, e);
	}

	// Validate car engine size 
	bool engineCapValidator(const std::string& c)
	{
		static const boost::regex e("^[0-9]{2}(00)$");
		return regex_match(c, e);
	}

	// Validate RSA char/digit value
	int charValidator(const char& c)
	{
		return isdigit(c); 
	}

	int rentalTypeValidator(const std::string& s)
	{
		return !( s.compare("Unlimited") && s.compare("200km") );
	}
	
	bool yearModelValidator(const int& value)
	{
		time_t rawtime;
		tm* timeinfo;

		time( &rawtime );
		timeinfo = localtime ( &rawtime );

		int year = timeinfo->tm_year+1900;

		if(value < year-YR_OLD && value > year)
			return false;
		else
			return true;
	}
}

#endif

Used here ...

Code:

#include "Validator.h"

void Fleet::ReadCarData(Car& car)
{
	string make, model, regNo;
	char engineSize[10];
	int ymodel;
	Car::TankStatus ts;

	do
	{
		cout << "\n\nEnter car make : ";
		cin >> make; 
	}
	while ( !valid::mixedStringValidator(make) );

	do
	{
		cout << "\nEnter car model : ";	
		cin >> model;
	}
	while ( !valid::mixedStringValidator(model) );

	do
	{
		cout << "\nEnter car registration number : ";
		cin >> regNo;
	}
	while ( !valid::mixedStringValidator(regNo) );

	do
	{
		cout << "\nEnter the year model of the car : ";
		cin >> ymodel;
	}
	while ( !valid::yearModelValidator(ymodel) );

	do
	{
		cout << "\nEnter the engine capacity : ";
		cin >> engineSize;

	}
	while ( !valid::engineCapValidator(engineSize) );

	do
	{
		cout << "\nTank Status [unknown=0, empty=1, half=2, full=3] :";
		cin >> ts;
	}
	while( !(ts==Car::unknown || ts==Car::empty || ts==Car::full || ts==Car::half ) );

	// Ensure correct tank details
	if ( (ts>3) || (ts<0) ) {
		ts=Car::unknown;
	}
	car.setCarDetails(make, model, regNo, ymodel, atoi(engineSize), ts);
}

Link Errors

Code:

1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::driverIDValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?driverIDValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::landLineValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?landLineValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::cellNoValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?cellNoValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::stringValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?stringValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::mixedStringValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?mixedStringValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::postalCodeValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?postalCodeValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::engineCapValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?engineCapValidator@valid@@YA_NABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "int __cdecl valid::charValidator(char const &)" (?charValidator@valid@@YAHABD@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "int __cdecl valid::rentalTypeValidator(class std::basic_string<char,struct std::char_traits<char>,class std::allocator<char> > const &)" (?rentalTypeValidator@valid@@YAHABV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>Rental.obj : error LNK2005: "bool __cdecl valid::yearModelValidator(int const &)" (?yearModelValidator@valid@@YA_NABH@Z) already defined in Fleet.obj
1>c:\C++ Folder\Rental Project\Fleet\Debug\Fleet.exe : fatal error LNK1169: one or more multiply defined symbols found

Rental.CPP also includes "Validator.h" ... I think the conflict is there? How do i resolved this?

Ah, yes. If a function is not a template or inline, it probably (as in, with very few exceptions) should go in a .cpp file. In this case, I don't see any reason why they should NOT be declared in valid.h, and then implemented in valid.cpp.

--
Mats