typedef help

Hi, i'm a little rusty with C++. Well, actually this is something that in the past I kind of overlooked and never needed. And after around six months of doing absolutly no programming what-so-ever; it seems I need to learn a bit.
I would really appreciate it if someone could please explain what's happening in the following code (it's the typedef bit i'm concerned with):

Code:

---

struct BBRECORD
{
        /*
        stuff
        */
};

typedef std::vector<BBRECORD*> BBRECORD_LIST;

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After this, the idea seems to be to create a class which is able to add BBRECORDS to a BBRECORD_LIST but i fail to see how this can be done because I don't fully understand what's going on in that code.

Thanks for any relpies.

The typedef doesn't create any new class. It just causes BBRECORD_LIST to be exactly synonymous with std::vector<BBRECORD*>.

So anywhere you would use the type std::vector<BBRECORD*> you could also use BBRECORD_LIST. Proceed as normal...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brewbuck

The typedef doesn't create any new class. It just causes BBRECORD_LIST to be exactly synonymous with std::vector<BBRECORD*>.

So anywhere you would use the type std::vector<BBRECORD*> you could also use BBRECORD_LIST. Proceed as normal...

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Thanks for the fast reply.

I think you misunderstood my question though. It's my aim to create a class later. I understand that typedef does not create a class. I suppose my question is; what exactly is std::vector<BBRECORD*>; it's a vector, but what relevance does the BBRECORD* have?

I suppose I worded my initial post incorrectly, my question is not so much about the typedef. Apologies.

Thanks again.

It's a pointer. Google it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by switchcase

Thanks for the fast reply.

I think you misunderstood my question though. It's my aim to create a class later. I understand that typedef does not create a class. I suppose my question is; what exactly is std::vector<BBRECORD*>; it's a vector, but what relevance does the BBRECORD* have?

I suppose I worded my initial post incorrectly, my question is not so much about the typedef. Apologies.

Thanks again.

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a std::vector<BBRECORD*> is a vector of BBRECORD*. A BBRECORD* is a pointer to a BBRECORD. So it's a vector of pointers to BBRECORD objects -- not to be confused with a vector of BBRECORD objects.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desolation

It's a pointer. Google it.

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I know that.

Quote:

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a std::vector<BBRECORD*> is a vector of BBRECORD*. A BBRECORD* is a pointer to a BBRECORD. So it's a vector of pointers to BBRECORD objects -- not to be confused with a vector of BBRECORD objects.

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I thought so. But how does this make it possible to dynamically create BBRECORDs?

Thanks.

Code:

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BBRECORD_LIST records;
records.push_back(new BBRECORD);

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And it's your responsibility to delete that object later.

(The little pedantic demons in me are crying, "Not exception-safe!" but I don't want to load that on the OP right now.)

Yeah I was gonna say at least use auto_ptr or something, if you *really* want a vector of pointers to objects. I'm positive a vector doesn't try to store very much on the stack.

You're not allowed to use auto_ptr as a container element. You've got to use shared_ptr or something like it.

Huh ?! Why did someone delete my post ? I wrote a post to say that he had to use boost::shared_ptr and it's gone now =/

I think it failed to submit or something. I would see it if it was deleted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Desolation

Huh ?! Why did someone delete my post ? I wrote a post to say that he had to use boost::shared_ptr and it's gone now =/

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Screenshot or it never happened! :p lol...

Thanks for the replies everyone.

You have been very helpfull. Thanks!