Thread: Class question

hi,
I am working with simple classes. When setting a class for an animal I use this code:

Code:

animal someName;
someName.info();

So basically this creates a new animal class by the name of someName. Here's my problem: What do I do if I want the class name to be a variable? For example I want to be able to make a few animal classes, and each class name would be going up by 1.

(animals1, animals2, animals3)

to do this the name would have to be a variable. I tried creating a new class by using a pointer but it did not work. If anyone can shed some light on this it would be apreciated.

thanks

well the example is not what I'm realy trying to do. Basically I want to be able to create a class name by whatever input the user has given me.

Code:

animal someName;
someName.info();

So basically this creates a new animal class by the name of someName. Here's my problem: What do I do if I want the class name to be a variable?

Those lines don't create a new animal class by the name of someName. They create an object called someName that is a member of the animal class.

Also, a class name is not a variable--it's a type just like int, double, string, etc. are types.

Originally Posted by Mr.Pink

well the example is not what I'm realy trying to do. Basically I want to be able to create a class name by whatever input the user has given me.

If I'm understanding this right, you want a factory class or function.

The following is a very simplistic example with the problem that, whenever you create a new class of Animal, you have to modify the function;

Code:

std::auto_ptr<Animal> AnimalFactory(const std::string &type, const std::string &name)
{
    std::auto_ptr<Animal> retval;
    if (type == "Cat")
        retval = new Cat(name);
    else if (type == "Dog")
        retval = new Dog(name);
    //  other known animals
    return retval;
}