Need Help for Retrieving Value of an Private Member Variable of a Class.

This code doesn't work as I expect. The return value of privte member variables are always garbage .
Can every body help me out !
Thanks in advandce.

Code:

/* elusive problem*/

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

class record
{

private:
	int a,b;
public:
	void set();
	int geta();
	int getb();

};

//------------------------------------------------------


void record::set()
{
	
	cout<<"Please Enter the Numbers.\n";
	cout<<"\nFirst Number: ";
	cin>>a;
	cout<<"\nSecond Number: ";
	cin>>b;
	
}

//______________________________

int record::geta()
{
	return a;
}

//______________________________

int record::getb()
{
	return b;
}

//______________________________

void mediate()
// used to set values to a & b and retrieve them at frist time.
{
	
	int num1,num2;
	record student;
	student.set(); //set values to private a & b
	num1=student.geta();
	num2=student.getb();
	
	cout<<"Retrieve private variables a & b through mutators geta() & getb() :\n";
	cout<<num1<<" "<<num2<<endl; //no problem when retrieving values of a & b here...
}


int main()
{
	int n1,n2;
	record student;
	mediate();
	
	//values of a & b can not be retrieved here. Why do they return the meaningless number ?
	n1=student.geta();
	n2=student.getb();
	
	cout<<"Retrieve private variables second time :\n";
	cout<<n1<<" "<<n2<<endl;
	return 0;
}

They're returning garbage because they're uninitialized. You didn't set them. You have two instances of the "record" object, one in main() and one in mediate(). They are not the same object, even though they have the same name.

So again, you have 2 "record" objects in your program. You called them both "student" but they're in different scopes.

Either make "student" global, or initialize your second "student" object.


Look here:

Code:

...

record student;
mediate();

n1=student.geta();
n2=student.getb();

...

See the problem?

Originally Posted by BMJ

They're returning garbage because they're uninitialized. You didn't set them. You have two instances of the "record" object, one in main() and one in mediate(). They are not the same object, even though they have the same name.

So again, you have 2 "record" objects in your program. You called them both "student" but they're in different scopes.

Either make "student" global, or initialize your second "student" object.

Yes, Yes, Yes, I got it. Thank you so much.
So, if I want to do so, I must place the argument for mediate(record& student) function, is it correct.
I'm appriciated.

Code:

/* Solved problem
BIG THANKS TO BMJ */

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

class record
{

private:
	int a,b;
public:
	void set();
	int geta();
	int getb();

};

//------------------------------------------------------


void record::set()
{
	
	cout<<"Please Enter the Numbers.\n";
	cout<<"\nFirst Number: ";
	cin>>a;
	cout<<"\nSecond Number: ";
	cin>>b;
	
}

//______________________________

int record::geta()
{
	return a;
}

//______________________________

int record::getb()
{
	return b;
}

//______________________________

void mediate(record& student)
// used to set values to a & b and retrieve them at frist time.
{
	
	int num1,num2;
	student.set(); //set values to private a & b
	num1=student.geta();
	num2=student.getb();
	
	cout<<"Retrieve private variables a & b throung mutators geta() & getb() :\n";
}


int main()
{
	int n1,n2;
	record student;
	mediate(student);
	
	//Now, It works... :)
	n1=student.geta();
	n2=student.getb();
	
	cout<<"Retrieve private variables second time :\n";
	cout<<n1<<" "<<n2<<endl;
	return 0;
}