friend class access

[Lil'Hasher]

Hi i have some code similar to below but i cant seem to get it to work as i would like. I'm wondering if what i'm doing is invalid. (ie. trying to use the struct defined in one class through its friend)

Class A{
friend class B;
private:
struct node{
//some variables in here
}

.....
}

Class B{
private
node *current;

....
}

I get an error implying that the current variable is not defined/recognized.

The only other way i can think of doing this is making a Class node but i think a struct is better and would like to do it this way if possible.

[stober]

Here is one solution:


class A
{
friend class B;
private:
struct node {
//some variables in here
};

};

class B
{
private:
A::node *current;

};

[dumah]

Have you thought that perhaps if B needs node, then it shouldnt be tucked away in A and accessed via the "friend" declaration?

If you want both classes to use this node, then I dont see why 1 should have "ownership"

Maybe if they both share usage, this could be pushed down to a base class?


#include <iostream>

class SomeInterface{
protected://protected so only inheriting classes can use it
struct node {
//node does whatever
void Action(){std::cout << "Does something" << std::endl;}
};
};

class A: public SomeInterface{
public:
void DoWhatever(){m_node.Action();}//standard function for class
private:
node m_node;//class can now use nodes
};

class B: public SomeInterface{
public:
void DoWhatever(){m_node.Action();} //standard function for class
private:
node m_node;//class can now use nodes
};

int main(){

A a;
B b;

//Now each class can use node internally without
// trusting each other as frinds
a.DoWhatever();
b.DoWhatever();
}

Of course I am taking wild assumptions at your class designs and usages....this may be an idea...it may not :confused: ..depends on you