C++ macro

globos · Jul 18, 2003

Hi,

I have declared the following macro :

# define old(declaration) (declaration)

and then used it :

void a_proc ()
{
old(int i = 0);
}

But I get the errors :
error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before identifier 'i'
error C2065: 'i' : undeclared identifier
error C2059: syntax error : ')'

I thought we can put what we want in macros. What is the problem here?

--
Globos

PerFnurt · Jul 18, 2003

>I thought we can put what we want in macros.

In theory yes. But is usually bad practice to do so.

>What is the problem here?

1) You don't really know whay you are defining such a macro ;-)
2)
The macro expands to
((int i = 0)

which is not a valid c++ syntax.

Use macros with care!

For instance consider a macro like
#define max(a,b) { a>b ? a : b }

and a usage like
max(a++, b--)
how might a and be be affected?

/Per
_{Nerdy signatures are as lame as the inconsistent stardates of STTNG.}

globos · Jul 18, 2003

Thanks PerFnurt,

my problem is solved, I was confused by the use of macros.
But I know why I am defining such a macro!

I want to emulate the 'old' mecanism of Eiffel.
For example consider a basic Counter class:

<pre>
<tt>
#ifdef DBC
# define old(decl) decl
# define ensure(expr) assert (expr)
#else

# define old(decl)
# define ensure(expr)
#endif


class Counter
{
public:
Counter (int init) :
_counter (init)
{
}
~Counter ();

int inc_counter_by_one ()
{
old (int old_counter = _counter);
_counter++;
ensure (_counter == old_counter + 1);
}

private:
int _counter;
};</tt>
</pre>

With this mecanism you can decorate the source code with pre and post-conditions, or you can easily get rid of it in a release compiled version.

Concerning your macro example, I never use conditional expressions! It leads to side-effects

--
Globos

globos · Jul 18, 2003

(Sorry for the preceeding post)
Thanks PerFnurt,

my problem is solved, I was confused by the use of macros.
But I know why I am defining such a macro!

I want to emulate the 'old' mecanism of Eiffel.
For example consider a basic Counter class:

#ifdef DBC
# define old(decl) decl
# define ensure(expr) assert (expr)
#else
# define old(decl)
# define ensure(expr)
#endif

class Counter
{
public:
Counter (int init) :
_counter (init)
{
}
~Counter ();

int inc_counter_by_one ()
{
old (int old_counter = _counter);
_counter++;
ensure (_counter == old_counter + 1);
}

private:
int _counter;
};

With this mecanism you can decorate the source code with pre and post-conditions, or you can easily get rid of it in a release compiled version.

Concerning your macro example, I never use conditional expressions! It leads to side-effects

--
Globos

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C++ macro

globos

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PerFnurt

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globos

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globos

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