the "this" pointer

Hi,

Could someone take a look at this code (taken from Sam's Teach Yourself C++ in 24 hrs, 2nd ed.) and take a guess at why Dev-Cpp wouldn't compile it? Thanks.

Code:

---


// Listing 10.4
// Using the this pointer

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>

using namespace std;

class Rectangle
{
public:
    Rectangle();
      ~Rectangle();
      void SetLength(int length) { this->itsLength = length; }
      int GetLength() const { return this->itsLength; }

      void SetWidth(int width) { itsWidth = width; }
      int GetWidth() const { return itsWidth; }

 private:
      int itsLength;
      int itsWidth;
 };

 Rectangle::Rectangle()
 {
    itsWidth = 5;
    itsLength = 10;
 }
 Rectangle::~Rectangle()
 {}

 int main()
 {
      Rectangle theRect;
      cout << "theRect is " << theRect.GetLength() << " feet long.\n";
      cout << "theRect is " << theRect.GetWidth() << " feet wide.\n";
      theRect.SetLength(20);
      theRect.SetWidth(10);
      cout << "theRect is " << theRect.GetLength()<< " feet long.\n";
      cout << "theRect is " << theRect.GetWidth()<< " feet wide.\n";
      system("pause");
      return 0;
 }

---

Here are the error msgs:


Compiler: Default compiler
Executing g++.exe...
g++.exe "C:\C\STYCPP24\SOURCE\Chapt10\List1004.cpp" -o "C:\C\STYCPP24\SOURCE\Chapt10\List1004.exe" -g3 -I"C:\DEVCPP\include\c++" -I"C:\DEVCPP\include\c++\mingw32" -I"C:\DEVCPP\include\c++\backward" -I"C:\DEVCPP\include" -L"C:\DEVCPP\lib"
C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp: In function `int main()':

C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp:35: `Rectangle' undeclared (first use
this function)

C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp:35: (Each undeclared identifier is
reported only once for each function it appears in.)
C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp:35: parse error before `;' token
C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp:36: `theRect' undeclared (first use
this function) Execution terminated

C:/C/STYCPP24/SOURCE/Chapt10/List1004.cpp:35: `Rectangle' undeclared (first use

I guess this is the offending line: Rectangle theRect;

...but it looks fine to a rookie like yours truly. :) Any ideas? Snide remarks?

Swaine777

Not helpful I know, but compiles and runs fine with MS VC++ 6.0.

Hmm that is strange. I´ve compiled your code under Dev-C++ and it works.

>>> I´ve compiled your code under Dev-C++ and it works.

Well, that would indicate that the problem is not compiler specific. What I suggest is you delete your source file, create a new one and cut and paste the source from your mesage above into it. You may have some non-visible screwy characters in your file.

Quote:

---

Well, that would indicate that the problem is not compiler specific. What I suggest is you delete your source file, create a new one and cut and paste the source from your mesage above into it. You may have some non-visible screwy characters in your file.

---

I agree, and if it doesn´t work, reinstall Dev-Cpp.

I get the same problem on the latest version of Dev-C++, but not on older versions. As best I can figure out, the standard C++ headers don't like the identifier Rectangle. If you change it to Rect the program will compile and run without complaint. I don't have time to diagnose the problem fully, but that's your fix...just change the name of the class.

>Perhaps this is an example of where
I considered that as well, but replacing the directive with the declaration for cout only had the same effect.

I would suggest that Jesse Liberty's books are so bad, they have somehow corrupted the compiler. Did you leave your book on top of your computer?

At work right now (i.e., quick look) but if the code example is the same as that of your source code where is the closing brace for class Rectangle.

Never mind!!!