BUG: Access to Nested Base Class Member Functions Blocked

• Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 5.0, 6.0

SYMPTOMS

When a class derived from a nested class calls a base class member function explicitly, the compiler generates error C2352: (relative to the sample code below):

main.cpp(13) : error C2352: 'A::B::f' : illegal call of non-static member function

RESOLUTION

There are 2 workarounds:

1. Call the member function without the scope resolution operator. This is the simplest workaround, but it will not work if a member function of the same name is defined in the derived class. Please see workaround #1 after the sample code below.



2. Declare a pointer to member function and call the base class function via the pointer. Please see workaround #2 after the sample code below.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

/* Compile Options: None */ 
   class A {
   public:
     class B {
     public:
          void f();
     };
   };

   class C : public A::B {
   public:
     void g() { A::B::f(); } // <== C2352 at this line
   };


Workaround
Use a typedef for class A::B as follows:


class C : public A::B 
{
   public:
      typedef A::B BaseClass;
      void f() { BaseClass::f(); } // <== No Error Any More
}; 

====================
BEGIN JUSTIFICATION:
====================
<B>Workaround #1</B>
Will not work if there is a C::f member function defined, including the
common case of overloading the base class function f().

<B>Workaround #2</B>
Causes an infinite recursion for virtual functions g() that needs to
call the base class virtual function g().
==================
END JUSTIFICATION:
================== 

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbprg kbLangCPP kbVC kbVC500bug kbVC600bug
Version : winnt:5.0,6.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug