Returning an Array of Pointers to Objects

Haven't seen very many clear examples around but I was wondering what would be the correct syntax to return and catch an array of pointers to objects?

For this particular program I am parsing a string into an array of object tokens, and using that array in another class. Stabbing in the dark gets me a compil error, so I was wondering if anyone has any help on the matter?

My current function prototype for returning the array of pointers is:

Code:

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ObjectName* [] function( string something);

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My return line for the function is:

Code:

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return ( array);

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Where array is an array of pointers to objects

And the function prototype for the function which uses that array:

Code:

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double function( Object* array[])

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The gist of the compile error is I either have an extra bracket/s or are missing some, somewhere :p Any help would be much appreciated.

You can't return an array.

Code:

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double function( Object* array[])

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When you pass an array as an arguement, it's a reference. Meaning anything you do to it will affect the array you passed to the function.

Hehe, I really do need sleep :) Thanks for the heads up!

There a couple of ways. One is with a pointer to a pointer to objects and use it as an array.

Example:

Code:

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PersonInfo** RetrieveArrayOfObjectsViaPtrToPtr(void);

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
        PersonInfo** x = RetrieveArrayOfObjectsViaPtrToPtr();

        x[0]->Draw();
        x[1]->Draw();

        delete x[0];
        delete x[1];

        return 0;
}

PersonInfo** RetrieveArrayOfObjectsViaPtrToPtr(void)
{
        PersonInfo** arr = new PersonInfo*[2];
        arr[0] = new PersonInfo("one");
        arr[1] = new PersonInfo("two");

        return arr;
}

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class PersonInfo has a Draw member method.
Don't forget to delete the pointer to pointers!

Another option is to return a vector, which may be better because it handles memory management on its own and therefore won't have a memory leak like xeddiex's code has.

Passing the vector by reference is more common than returning one from a function, but either way will work.