How to copy a constructor from base to child classes

While I was writing some code I noticed something:


In this program

Code:

---

#include <iostream>


class Character
{
    public:
        Character(int health, int carryWeight, int stamina, int magicka, std::string name, std::string race)
            : mHealth(health),
              mCarryWeight(carryWeight),
              mStamina(stamina),
              mMagicka(magicka),
              mName(name),
              mRace(race)
              {}


        virtual void Speak()
        {
            std::cout << "Default Character\n";
        }


        void ShowCharacterInfo()
        {
            std::cout << "Health: " << mHealth << "\n";
            std::cout << "Carry Weight: " << mCarryWeight << "\n";
            std::cout << "Stamina: " << mStamina << "\n";
            std::cout << "Magicka: " << mMagicka << "\n";
            std::cout << "Name: " << mName << "\n";
            std::cout << "Race: " << mRace << "\n";
        }


    protected:
        int mHealth;
        int mCarryWeight;
        int mStamina;
        int mMagicka;


        std::string mName;
        std::string mRace;
};


class Nord : public Character
{
    public:
        Nord(int health, int carryWeight, int stamina, int magicka, std::string name, std::string race)
            : Character(health, carryWeight, stamina, magicka, name, race){}


        void Speak()
        {
            std::cout << "I am a " << mRace << " my name is " << mName << "\n";
        }
};


int main()
{
    Nord Ulfric(100, 100, 80, 190, "Ulfric", "Nord");
    Nord Harkon(250, 150, 50, 150, "Harkon", "Nord");


    Character& NordUlfric = Ulfric;
    Character& NordHarkon = Harkon;


    Ulfric.ShowCharacterInfo();
    std::cout << "\n";
    Harkon.ShowCharacterInfo();


    std::cout << "\n";


    Ulfric.Speak();
    Harkon.Speak();




    return 0;
}

---

This constructor in Nord:

Code:

---

Nord(int health, int carryWeight, int stamina, int magicka, std::string name, std::string race)
            : Character(health, carryWeight, stamina, magicka, name, race){}

---

Is a pain to update everytime I add a variable to Character. I have to then edit the constructor in the other class. Is there a simpler way? Like is there a way that Nord can just inherit the constructor of Character so I dont have to keep updating it? I would have to do that for all other classes if I had more as well and that would start to be a real pain, there has to be an easier way, I want to be able to just update the constructor in Character and it updates for all that inherit from it.

Ok so here is my updated code with a solution I found after hours of searching:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>


class Character
{
    public:
        Character(int health, int carryWeight, int stamina, int magicka, std::string name, std::string race)
            : mHealth(health),
              mCarryWeight(carryWeight),
              mStamina(stamina),
              mMagicka(magicka),
              mName(name),
              mRace(race)
              {}


        virtual void Speak()
        {
            std::cout << "I am a " << mRace << " my name is " << mName << "\n";
        }


        void ShowCharacterInfo()
        {
            std::cout << "Health: " << mHealth << "\n";
            std::cout << "Carry Weight: " << mCarryWeight << "\n";
            std::cout << "Stamina: " << mStamina << "\n";
            std::cout << "Magicka: " << mMagicka << "\n";
            std::cout << "Name: " << mName << "\n";
            std::cout << "Race: " << mRace << "\n";
        }


    protected:
        int mHealth;
        int mCarryWeight;
        int mStamina;
        int mMagicka;


        std::string mName;
        std::string mRace;
};


class Nord : public Character
{
    public:
        //Nord(int health, int carryWeight, int stamina, int magicka, std::string name, std::string race)
            //: Character(health, carryWeight, stamina, magicka, name, race){}
        using Character::Character;
};


class Argonian : public Character
{
    public:
        using Character::Character;
};


int main()
{
    Nord Ulfric(100, 100, 80, 190, "Ulfric", "Nord");
    Nord Harkon(250, 150, 50, 150, "Harkon", "Nord");


    Character& NordUlfric = Ulfric;
    Character& NordHarkon = Harkon;


    Ulfric.ShowCharacterInfo();
    std::cout << "\n";
    Harkon.ShowCharacterInfo();


    std::cout << "\n";


    Ulfric.Speak();
    Harkon.Speak();




    return 0;
}

---

I just put

Code:

---

using Character::Character;

---

in the public section and voila, it works, however I know that just because the compiler doesnt complain, it doesnt mean there isnt a problem, can anyone tell me if there is a drawback to this? I dont see any, I see a great benefit, it keeps me from having to re-write boilerplate code so thats a massive plus.


Here is where I found this information:


c++ - What is constructor inheritance? - Stack Overflow

The fact that the Nord and Argonian classes are empty should be a clue that they are useless. You're even passing the string "Nord" or "Argonian" to Character!

Well, I havent finished writing them yet, I wanted to make sure the constructor copying wasnt doing anything weird before I moved on, they'll all have their own purpose soon enough, this program is more for just practice anyways, it's not a serious project.

You will find in the end that it's better to just use the Character class.

Sure, but I wanted to test out the constructor inheritance, which is mainly why I made the child classes, I agree they're useless otherwise.

I see. There's nothing wrong with inheriting constructors with a using declaration. It's been available (standard-wise) since C++11:
Using-declaration - cppreference.com

Awesome! thank you.