Template question

[grscot]

Dear all,
I have two functions:
a) Member* get_member(Book* book);
b)Book* get_book(Member* member);

The implementation code for the function prototypes is:

a)
template<class Book,class Member>
Member* AssociationList<Book,Member>::get_member(Book* book)
{
Member* member=0;
bool searching=true;
int index=0;

while(searching)
{
if (this->association_list[index])
if (this->association_list[index]->linked_book()==book)
{
member=this->association_list[index]->linked_member();
searching=false;
}
else
index++;
else
index++;
if (searching && (index == LIST_SIZE))
{
searching=false;
}
}
return member;
}

b)
template<class Book,class Member>
Book* AssociationList<Book,Member>::get_book(Member* member)
{
Book* book=0;
bool searching=true;
int index=0;

while(searching)
{
if (this->association_list[index])
if (this->association_list[index]->linked_member()==member)
{
book=this->association_list[index]->linked_book();
searching=false;
}
else
index++;
else
index++;
if (searching && (index == LIST_SIZE))
{
searching = false;
}
}
return book;
}

All I want to do is use one generic function for the two, so that from the main.cpp:

void main()
{
List<Member>member1;
List<Book>book1;
char menuChoice;
do
{
cout<<'\n';
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;**** Main Menu ****&quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;1: Add Book &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;2: Remove Book &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;3: Display Books &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;4: Add Member &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;5: Remove Member &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;6: Display Members &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;7: Borrow Book &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;8: Return Book &quot;<<endl;
cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;0: Quit &quot;<<endl;
cout<<endl;
cout<<&quot;Enter one of the above choices: &quot;;cinFlush;
cin>>menuChoice;
switch(menuChoice)
{
case '1': cout<<'\n';
book1.addElement(&quot;Books&quot;
break;
case '2': cout<<'\n';

break;
case '3': cout<<'\n';
book1.displayElement(&quot;Books&quot;
break;
case '4': cout<<'\n';
/*member1.addElement(&quot;Member&quot;*/
break;
case '5': cout<<'\n';

break;
case '6': cout<<'\n';
/*member1.displayElement(&quot;Member&quot;*/
break;
case '7': cout<<'\n';
//book1.borrowElement();
break;
case '8': cout<<'\n';
//book1.returnElement();
break;
default: cout<<'\n';
cout<<&quot;Invalid Selection\n&quot;;
}
}while(menuChoice != '0' && !cin.eof());
prompt_to_quit();
}

...to call each one and dispaly either the books from a book array or the members from a member array.
The'display' implementation code is:
template<class Object>
void List<Object>::displayElement(char* type)
{
if (num_elements == 0)
cout<<&quot;No &quot;<<type<<&quot; is found in the &quot;<<type<<&quot; array.\n&quot;;
else
for(int element=0; element<this->num_elements; element++)
{
cout<<'\n';
this->element_list[element]->display(association_list.get_member(element_list[element]));
}
}

But I'm having some errors trying to use
template<class R,class P>
R* get_member(P* pArg); instead of using the a,b function prototypes. The 'generic' function that I use and causes the problems is:
template<class R,class P>
R* AssociationList<Book,Member>::get_member(P* pArg)
{
R* member=0;
bool searching=true;
int index=0;

while(searching)
{
if (this->association_list[index])
if (this->association_list[index]->linked_book()==book)
{
member=this->association_list[index]->linked_member();
searching=false;
}
else
index++;
else
index++;
if (searching && (index == LIST_SIZE))
{
searching=false;
}
}
return member;
}
The errors are:
'AssociationList<class Book, class Member>::get_member':unable to resolve function overload
and the second one is:
template definitions cannot nest(??)

Could someone help me?
Regards,
grscot