class and pointer question

Here is my code (I use boost::shared_ptr):

Code:

---

class socket {
public:
        SOCKET s;
        //all socket functions//
};

typedef boost::shared_ptr<socket> socket_ptr;


class client1 : public socket {
public:
        short c;
        //client1 functions//
};

typedef boost::shared_ptr<client1> client1_ptr;


class client2 : public socket {
public:
        short c;
        //client2 functions//
};

typedef boost::shared_ptr<client2> client2_ptr;


/// THE PROBLEM ///
template <class T>        //not sure if I should use template
class multisock {
public:
        list <T> sockets;
};

---

The problem is I want to have let say 10 instances of client1/client2/or socket class and want to be able to access their members from multisock class:
this would be like that:
list <client1_ptr> sockets;
list <client2_ptr> sockets;
list <socket_ptr> sockets;

Im not sure what would be the right way to do this, probably with templates? Anyway I get errors with my code..

This is how I would do things (and get errors) for class client1:

Code:

---

multisock mc <client1_ptr> ();
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
        mc.sockets.push_back <client1_ptr> ( client1_ptr(new client1()) );
}

---

You don't need templates.

read about dynamic binding and polymorphism

So I could just let multisock class:

Code:

---

class multisock {
public:
        list <socket_ptr> sockets;
};

---

and then be able to add client1 and 2 class pointers to the socket list..? How should I access their members through socket_ptr with boost::shared_ptr?

Using polymorphism and the example you gave in your second post, you will only be able to access public members of the socket class. By using virtual functions you can override the parent class's functionality and therefor utilize the functionality of the child functions. As Mario F stated, read up on polymorphism and dynamic binding as it will give you a firmer understanding of this matter.