FIX: Inlined Templated Member Functions Cannot Be Specialized

• The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with: - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0,

       4.1, 4.2
  

SYMPTOMS

When specializing a member function that is defined inside the class template, the specialized member function never gets called although there is no compiler error or linker error reported.

RESOLUTION

Do not define the member function in the class template. See the Sample Code below for an example.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code to Reproduce Problem

   /* Compile options needed: Default
   */

   # include <iostream.h>

   template<class T>
   struct TempStruct
   {
    void bar() { cout << "Template generated" << endl; }
    // Change the previous line into a comment and execute the following
    // line to work around the problem:
    // void bar();
   };

   // Execute the following lines to work around the problem:
   // template <class T>
   // inline void TempStruct<T>::bar()
   // {
   //   cout << "Template generated" << endl;
   // }

   void TempStruct<float>::bar()
   {
      cout << "Template specialized" << endl;
   }

   void main()
   {
       TempStruct<int> F1;
       TempStruct<float> F2;

       F1.bar();
       F2.bar();
   }

   // The output from the program is:
      Template generated
      Template generated

   // The output should be:
      Template generated
      Template specialized