Multiple inheritance issue

Helix · 03-31-2009, 04:09 AM

Hello all,

I have the following problem when trying to disambiguate the behaviour of a function in the most-derived class:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public B
{
};

class D : public C, public B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {C::B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

I am using:
g++ (GCC) 4.2.4 (Ubuntu 4.2.4-1ubuntu3)

Thanks!!

matsp · 03-31-2009, 04:35 AM

It's the same as this:

Code:

class A
{
    public:
      void func();
};

int main()
{
    A::func();
}

You haven't got an object of type A, so you can't call func.

However, even if you have an object, you are still not going to know which B::f() to call.

Why do you want to inherit the same class TWICE, and then call the inner base-class via the first class. Perhaps you actually want to do this:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public B
{
};

class D : public C, public B
{
public:
  virtual void f() {
    this->C::f();
  } // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

Now, the compiler complains that B is not going to be accessible in D, due to ambiguity. And I agree with that. I've got no idea what you are trying to achieve - almost all cases of inheriting the same class more than once in a derived class is caused by "bad thinking".

--
Mats

Helix · 03-31-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

It's the same as this:
However, even if you have an object, you are still not going to know which B::f() to call.

It's not the same, because i'm calling f() from a nonstatic function so I *have* and object.
And, the compiler should know which B::f() to call specifically because I wrote C::B::f(). So it should call the f() of the B in C.

What i'm trying to achieve is logical, and the code too seems logical to me.

matsp · 03-31-2009, 05:13 AM

I'll take your word for that.

How about this:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public B
{
public:
  virtual void f()
  {
    this->B::f();
  }
};

class D : public C, public B
{
public:
  virtual void f() {
    this->C::f();
  } 
};

--
Mats

Helix · 03-31-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

How about this:

Hmm, I see that in my original example writing C::f() instead of C::B::f() works, and the effect is the same.

But how do I invoke D::B::f() ? Now I want to call the implementation of f() in the B that is the direct superclass of D.
Reposting the problematic code.

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public B
{
};

class D : public C, public B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

thanks

grumpy · 03-31-2009, 06:22 AM

The call D::B::f(), no matter how you specify it, is ambiguous unless B is a virtual base. So the call is not possible.

Your design may be clear in your mind, but that's not the same as saying it is a good design.

Try giving a hint about what you're trying to do; someone may then be able to provide an alternative that can actually be implemented realistically in C++.

matsp · 03-31-2009, 06:50 AM

And beside from being able to implement it, maybe it will also be possible to maintain and modify later on without having a nightmare of knowing which f() is being called when and where.

--
Mats

Helix · 03-31-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy

The call D::B::f(), no matter how you specify it, is ambiguous unless B is a virtual base. So the call is not possible.

Grumpy, i worked a little to produce this minimalistic example, so to keep things simple. one thing I know for sure, is that I don't want B to be a virtual base class.

I'm not convinced that this call shouldn't be possible. It says in the Standard (10.2.5) that for nonvirtual base classes one uses explicit qualification (an inheritance path) to specify which sub-object is meant. I've seen this exemplified with fields, but it should work with functions.

Furthermore: I was not *very* suprised to see that Visual Studio compiles and calls the implementation of f() that I would expect! If you wanna try it:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    char mC;
    B(char c) : mC(c) {}
    virtual char f() {return mC;}
};

class C : public B
{
public:
    C() : B('C') {}
    virtual char f() {return 'A';}
};

class D : public C, public B
{
public:
    D() : C(), B('D') {}
    virtual char f() {return B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

Code:

void main() {    std::cout<<D().f();
}

matsp · 03-31-2009, 07:48 AM

Visual Studio is NOT a good measure of "standards comliance". gcc makes much more of an effort to comply with standards and being correct.

--
Mats

Helix · 03-31-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

Visual Studio is NOT a good measure of "standards comliance". gcc makes much more of an effort to comply with standards and being correct.

--
Mats

Well I didn't mean that g++ should conform to Visual Studio

.
I was just saying....

matsp · 03-31-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix

Well I didn't mean that g++ should conform to Visual Studio

.
I was just saying....

I didn't say you said that. I was just pointing out that for good and bad, Visual Studio does things that other compilers MAY or MAY NOT be able to do. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it's not.

--
Mats

**CornedBee** · 03-31-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix

But how do I invoke D::B::f() ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

Now, the compiler complains that B is not going to be accessible in D, due to ambiguity.

The compiler is right ...

I cannot think of a situation where broken triangle inheritance is ever the right solution for anything. Can you give us a few concrete hints about your design?

bithub · 03-31-2009, 10:51 AM

Use virtual inheritance like so:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public virtual B
{
};

class D : public C, public virtual B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

matsp · 03-31-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bithub

Use virtual inheritance like so:

Code:

class B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {}
};

class C : public virtual B
{
};

class D : public C, public virtual B
{
public:
    virtual void f() {B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object
};

But that assumes (which I think is where the key point is) that there should only be one B instance within D. If that's not the case, then this solution will not work.

--
Mats

Helix · 03-31-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

But that assumes (which I think is where the key point is) that there should only be one B instance within D. If that's not the case, then this solution will not work.

I did say I wanted multiple sub-object copies in my design.

Anyway.
So the conclusion is, this is not standard behavior, that I am asking for?

03-31-2009, 04:09 AM	#1
Helix Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 32	Multiple inheritance issue Hello all, I have the following problem when trying to disambiguate the behaviour of a function in the most-derived class: Code: class B { public: virtual void f() {} }; class C : public B { }; class D : public C, public B { public: virtual void f() {C::B::f();} // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object }; I am using: g++ (GCC) 4.2.4 (Ubuntu 4.2.4-1ubuntu3) Thanks!!
Helix is offline

03-31-2009, 04:35 AM	#2
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	It's the same as this: Code: class A { public: void func(); }; int main() { A::func(); } You haven't got an object of type A, so you can't call func. However, even if you have an object, you are still not going to know which B::f() to call. Why do you want to inherit the same class TWICE, and then call the inner base-class via the first class. Perhaps you actually want to do this: Code: class B { public: virtual void f() {} }; class C : public B { }; class D : public C, public B { public: virtual void f() { this->C::f(); } // error: cannot call member function ‘virtual void B::f()’ without object }; Now, the compiler complains that B is not going to be accessible in D, due to ambiguity. And I agree with that. I've got no idea what you are trying to achieve - almost all cases of inheriting the same class more than once in a derived class is caused by "bad thinking". -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

03-31-2009, 05:13 AM	#4
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	I'll take your word for that. How about this: Code: class B { public: virtual void f() {} }; class C : public B { public: virtual void f() { this->B::f(); } }; class D : public C, public B { public: virtual void f() { this->C::f(); } }; -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

03-31-2009, 06:22 AM	#6
grumpy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,438	The call D::B::f(), no matter how you specify it, is ambiguous unless B is a virtual base. So the call is not possible. Your design may be clear in your mind, but that's not the same as saying it is a good design. Try giving a hint about what you're trying to do; someone may then be able to provide an alternative that can actually be implemented realistically in C++.
grumpy is offline

03-31-2009, 06:50 AM	#7
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	And beside from being able to implement it, maybe it will also be possible to maintain and modify later on without having a nightmare of knowing which f() is being called when and where. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

03-31-2009, 07:48 AM	#9
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	Visual Studio is NOT a good measure of "standards comliance". gcc makes much more of an effort to comply with standards and being correct. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

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