PRB: C2664 Instantiating STL List with Sequence [first, last)

• Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

Instantiating an STL list container with a sequence [first, last), where first and last are iterators, causes the compiler error C2664:

   'function': cannot convert parameter number from 'type1' to 'type2'

CAUSE

Using the list(const_iterator first, const_iterator last, const A& a1= A()) constructor causes the compiler error C2664. The constructor for list takes a list<T>::const_iterator instead of a generic iterator for the first two parameters.

RESOLUTION

Workaround 1

Use the default constructor. Insert elements in the list using the push_back member function.

Workaround 2

Use the list(size_type, const T& v = T(), const A& a1 = A()) constructor. Insert elements in the list using the copy algorithm.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The following sample demonstrates the problem:

   //test1.cpp
   //Compiler options needed: /GX

   #include <list>

   int main()
   {
      int INTARRAY[4] = {1, 2, 3, 4} ;
      std::list<int> INTLIST(INTARRAY, INTARRAY + 4) ; //C2664 here
   }

   test1.cpp(9) : error C2664: 'std::list<int,class
   std::allocator<int>>::list<int,class std::allocator<int>>(unsigned
   int,const int &,const class std::allocator<int> &)' : cannot convert
   parameter 1 from 'int [4]' to 'unsigned int'

   //test2.cpp
   //Compiler options needed: /GX

   #include <list>

   int main()
   {
      int INTARRAY[4] = {1, 2, 3, 4} ;
      std::list<int> INTLIST ;
      for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
          INTLIST.push_back(INTARRAY[i]) ;
      return 0 ;
   }

   //test3.cpp
   //Compiler options needed: /GX

   #include <list>
   #include <algorithm>

   int main()
   {
      int INTARRAY[4] = {1, 2, 3, 4} ;
      std::list<int> INTLIST(4) ;
      std::copy(INTARRAY, INTARRAY + 4, INTLIST.begin()) ;
      return 0 ;
   }