Consolidating two functions

[cunnus88]

Hello, all.

Let's say there are two class member functions that do the same thing but have different argument types.

bool some_class::isX(string S) const
{
return stl_set_object.end() != stl_set_object.find(S)
}

bool some_class::isX(const char* S) const
{
return stl_set_object.end() != stl_set_object.find(S)
}

So I consolidated this with a template to:

template <class T>
bool isX(T S) const
{
return stl_set_object.end() != stl_set_object.find(S)
}

But what if I wanted to pass a string object as a reference and leave character pointers alone.

So the first function would be modified to:

bool some_class::isX(string& S) const  //note the addressof operator here
{
return stl_set_object.end() != stl_set_object.find(S)
}

Would there still be a way to consolidate the two functions (one with string reference argument and another with const char*) into one using a template?

It strikes me as counter-intuitive, but I was just curious to know the flexibility of the STL and c++ with regard to this.

[CornedBee]

In theory, yes. In practice, it's more work than just having the two functions.

[cunnus88]

Would you mind telling me how it might be done? Or at least throwing me a link?

Thanks.

[CornedBee]

Two ways.
Either you can write metafunctions that decide the right argument type (or use those available in Boost).

Or you can define a string_arg class that hides the difference by calling c_str() on a string and storing it or storing a char* directly. (Of course that only works for immutable arguments.)

[cunnus88]

Thanks.

And you're right. It does seem to be more trouble than it's worth.