class virtual function inheritance

Is there a way not to declare a virtually declared function in a superclass? Or is it mandatory? Namely:

Code:

---

class A
{
public:
        virtual void some_function(arglist);
};

class B : public A
{
public:
        B(){whatever;}
};

void B::some_function(arglist)
{
        yadayada;
}

---

My compiler won't allow me to do it, so I'm declaring them again. So, is there a way out?

You need to add "void some_function(arglist);" to the class B definition.

I know you have to do that. I was just wondering if there was a way to get away from doing it.

With my puny understanding, I really can't see the need of having to declare a virtual function everytime in some subclass.

You have a prototype declared in some ueber-superclass. And since it's virtual, even if you override in some subclass without declaring it again in the class body, wouldn't the compiler know to look in the terminal subclass? Or even in an intermediary subclass?

But since it isn't so, and I'm willing to bet my entire life savings that the people on the c++ standard committee know better than I do, I guess there is a good reason that it ain't so.

Quote:

---

Is there a way not to declare a virtually declared function in a superclass?

---

Sure. But here is the difference:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Dog
{
public:
        void identify()
        {
                cout<<"I'm a dog."<<endl;
        }
};

class GermanShepherd : public Dog
{
        void identify()
        {
                cout<<"I'm a German Shepherd."<<endl;
        }
};

int main()
{
        Dog* pDog = 0;

        Dog aDog;
        pDog = &aDog;
        pDog->identify();  //I'm a dog.

        GermanShepherd Max;
        pDog = &Max;

        pDog->identify();  //I'm a dog.

        return 0;
}

---

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Dog
{
public:
        virtual void identify()
        {
                cout<<"I'm a dog."<<endl;
        }
};

class GermanShepherd : public Dog
{
        void identify()
        {
                cout<<"I'm a German Shepherd."<<endl;
        }
};
       

int main()
{
        Dog* pDog = 0;

        Dog aDog;
        pDog = &aDog;
        pDog->identify(); //I'm a dog.

        GermanShepherd Max;
        pDog = &Max;

        pDog->identify();  //I'm a German Shepherd.
       
        return 0;
}

---

I thought you could, but apparently not.
Thanks for that much needed kick in the head. I don't know what got into me.