constructor test (how would I do this?)

I created an overloaded operator for the first time.
It works and tests ok.
My teacher wants me to convert this overloaded operator into a copy constructor.
I got it to link, but I was wondering how would I go about testing it.

Below is my overloaded operator.

Code:

 
//prototype
		linklist operator=(linklist*);

//overloaded operator function
	linklist linklist::operator=(linklist *Original)
	{
		Original->current=Original->head;
		while(Original->current!=NULL)
		{
			link* newlink = new link;

			strcpy(newlink->lname,Original->current->lname);
			strcpy(newlink->fname,Original->current->fname);
			strcpy(newlink->ssnumber,Original->current->ssnumber);
			newlink->age=Original->current->age;
			newlink->weight=Original->current->weight;

			newlink->next = head;
			if (head == NULL) //this tells me I have an empty list
			{
				head = newlink;
				tail = head;
			}
			else
			{
				head = newlink;
			}
			Original->current=Original->current->next;
		}
		return *this;
	}

and this is my copy constructor

Code:

 
//prototype
		linklist(linklist*);

// copy constructor function
	linklist::linklist(linklist *Original)
	{
		Original->current=Original->head;
		while(Original->current!=NULL)
		{
			link* newlink = new link;

			strcpy(newlink->lname,Original->current->lname);
			strcpy(newlink->fname,Original->current->fname);
			strcpy(newlink->ssnumber,Original->current->ssnumber);
			newlink->age=Original->current->age;
			newlink->weight=Original->current->weight;

			newlink->next = head;
			if (head == NULL) //this tells me I have an empty list
			{
				head = newlink;
				tail = head;
			}
			else
			{
				head = newlink;
			}
			Original->current=Original->current->next;
		}
	}

can you pass arguments to the object initialization?

Code:

linklist listD(&listA);

To test your copy constructor create a function that recieves your linked list as one of its parameters.

Then in that function output the conents of the linked list you sent.

can you elaborate?

doesn't a constructor only execute at the time of object instansiation?

>>doesn't a constructor only execute at the time of object instansiation?<<
And when you create a copy of an object, isn't that creating a new instance of said object?

Code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class myClass
{
  public:
  myClass() 
  {
    cout <<"Default constructor activated!" <<endl;
  };
  
  myClass(myClass &C)
  {
    cout <<"Copy constructor activated!" <<endl;
  }
  
};

void foo (myClass C)
{
  cout <<"Inside foo()" <<endl;
}

int main(void)
{
  /* The next line will invoke the default constructor */
  myClass c1;
  /* The next line will invoke the copy constructor */
  myClass c2 = c1;  
  /* The next line will also invoke the copy constructor */
  foo(c2);
}

thanks for the details.
i figured it out.

I ended up testing it like the segment of my switch below.

Code:

 
			case'=':
					system("cls");
					listQ=listA;
					listQ.display();
					cout<<"\nCopy complete with Overload..."<<endl;
					getch();
					break;
			case' ':
					linklist listR(listB);
					listR.display();
					cout<<"\nCopy complete with Constructor..."<<endl;
					getch();
					break;