Invoking a method of a class with template

[lucky6969b]

bool CObject<class T>::Create(LPDIRECT3DDEVICE9 pDevice, T *pMesh, float fAnimSpeed)
{
	if(pMesh == NULL)
		return false;

	m_pDevice = pDevice;
	m_pMesh = pMesh;	
	
	if(m_pMesh->GetAnimController() != NULL)
	{
		DWORD dwNumAnimSet = m_pMesh->GetAnimController()->GetMaxNumAnimationSets();

In here, T can be from the class CMesh * or CSkinnedMesh *, both have signature of GetAnimController
This maybe a flaw in my design... But I want Create to accept any kinds of meshes.
Should I create an interface or abstract class above all of those?

Update:
I have added an IMesh class that every derived classes has to have the needed interface.


But since then, I have another question, I feel that it is very cumbersome to include a template argument in every class/prototype that is associated with CObject
Say
bool CreatePlanesFromObject(CObject *pObject, D3DXPLANE *pPlanes);
Requires me to do this
template<class T> bool CreatePlanesFromObject(CObject<T>* pObject, D3DXPLANE* pPlanes);
Any ways I can omit the template argument, because it doesn't make sense to know the Mesh type in
other classes....
Thanks
Jack

[OReubens]

looks like you have a somewhat awkward design. But without seeing the whole class, it's possible this is how it has to be.

however

consider.
CObject just being as it is, not as a template class
Create the function as a template FUNCTION rather than templatizing the whole class.
you can then specialize the function for the different types of meshes. (and provide a default one if possible).

this means you could skip potentially expensive tests like that test for GetAnimController for a mesh type that will never have one.