Inner classes and access restrictions

[Carlos Martinez]

Hi all:

Supose the following classes:

class A {

class InnerA1 {

};

class InnerA2 {
InnerA1 myObject;
};

public:

...
};

One compiler compiles ok and the other says that InnerA1 is not
accessible from InnerA2

Inner classes have the same access restrictions than ordinary classes?

must I put InnerA1 inside a public section for use it from InnerA2?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Victor Bazarov]

Supose the following classes:

class A {

class InnerA1 {

};

class InnerA2 {
InnerA1 myObject;
};

public:

...
};

One compiler compiles ok and the other says that InnerA1 is not
accessible from InnerA2

Inner classes have the same access restrictions than ordinary classes?

No. All members have access to all members of the same class. The code
above should compile without any problem. It has been discussed several
times, I believe, in comp.std.c++ or c.l.c++.m. Try digging up archived
threads on Google.

must I put InnerA1 inside a public section for use it from InnerA2?

You shouldn't have to, with a compliant compiler.

V

 

[Tom Widmer]

Hi all:

Supose the following classes:

class A {

class InnerA1 {

};

class InnerA2 {
InnerA1 myObject;
};

public:

...
};

One compiler compiles ok and the other says that InnerA1 is not
accessible from InnerA2

Inner classes have the same access restrictions than ordinary classes?

must I put InnerA1 inside a public section for use it from InnerA2?

This is an intended change in the language,
http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/cwg_defects.html#45
Currently, the workaround using "friend" is actualy illegal. See:
http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/cwg_defects.html#77

However, even if this is non-standard, it will probably work:

class A {

class InnerA1 {

};

class InnerA2;
friend class InnerA2;
class InnerA2 {
InnerA1 myObject;
};

public:

...
};

Tom