Class question

**pjharris** · 01-07-2006

This is a call I have to a function in a class. Where player[0] is an instance of that class and bet_or_pass() is a public function in that class.

Code:

players[0].bet_or_pass();

So how would I set a variable in that function to the instance that called the function. For example, I want to set a global variable to be the instance of the class(player[0]) that called the function. So, I guess im asking how do you make a self reference in a class function when you call the function like I have shown.

**dwks** · 01-07-2006

The this pointer.

**pjharris** · 01-07-2006

Originally Posted by dwks

The this pointer.

see thats what I thought. But then I did this in the public function bet_or_pass() in the class Player before I posted:

Code:

high_bidder = this;

and got this compile error:

Code:

game.cpp: In member function `void Player::bet_or_pass()':
game.cpp:266: no match for `Player& = Player* const' operator
game.cpp:42: candidates are: Player& Player::operator=(const Player&)

I initialized the global variable high_bidder like this:

Code:

Player high_bidder;

[edit] I re-read what you put and you said pointer. So, I just did this:

Code:

high_bidder = *this;

and it worked. Thanks for the help. The keyword was pointer. haha.
[/edit]

**Daved** · 01-08-2006

Be careful. You are making a copy of the player and storing it in high_bidder. That means that if the player's internal data changes later, it will not be reflected in the high_bidder variable. It also means that if you change the data in the high_bidder variable, it will not modify the player that you assigned to it.

Usually you want to store some sort of reference to the player that is the high_bidder, instead of copying the data. To do this, you could make high_bidder a pointer, since it will point to the same instance as the player you assign to it. You could also make high_bidder store the player id or the player name (if the names are unique) so that you can look up the appropriate player later to act on.

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