FIX: ClassView Lacks "Go to Declaration" for Static Data Members

ID: Q179012

The information in this article applies to:

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

SYMPTOMS

ClassView's context menu offers both "Go to Declaration" and "Go to Definition" options for class member functions. However, class data members with the "static" attribute have only the "Go to Definition" option, and it jumps incorrectly to the variable's declaration inside the class definition.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Visual C++, version 6.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Consider the following class, presented for illustration only:


   // Class Definition and member declarations.
   class MyClass
   {
   public:
      // Data members
      static int  i;
      char        c;

      // Function members
      MyClass();
   };

   // Class member definitions.
   int MyClass::i = 0;
   MyClass::MyClass()
   {
      c = 0;
   }

Each instance of "MyClass" contains the normal data member "c". Such members are normally initialized in the class's constructor. In Visual C++'s ClassView pane, the menu resulting from right-clicking on MyClass member "c" correctly indicates that it has no implementation (or definition). However, a static data member, such as "i" in the example, requires an explicit definition in addition to its declaration inside the class definition. ClassView's option does not jump directly to such a definition.

Due to a bug in Visual C++ 6.0, clicking "Go To Definition" for a template class static member variable displays the following error message:

Cannot find the definition for this variable.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q154112 ClassView Cannot Find Template Member Function Definition

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a class with a static data member as in the example above.

Save the file.

Expand the class in VC++'s ClassView pane.

Right-click on the static member; there is no "Go to Declaration" option.

Workaround

The following is a suggested workaround:

In the ClassView pane, right-click on the member variable.

Select "References."

Rebuild with browse information if prompted to do so.

From the "Definitions" list, jump to either the declaration (.h file) or definition (.cpp file).

REFERENCES

"Language Quick Reference [ASCII 150] static," VC++ 5.0 Online Books.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbcode kbVC500bug kbVC600fix kbGrpDSTools
Version : WINNT:5.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug