BUG: C2059 Error on Out-Of-Class Definition of Member Templates

ID: Q241949

The information in this article applies to:

The C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 5.0, 6.0

SYMPTOMS

The following error message appears if you define a member template class or function outside the class:

error C2059: syntax error : ''template<''
error C2065: 'T' : undeclared identifier

CAUSE

The compiler does not support out-of-class definition of member template functions and classes. Please refer to the C++ Standard, section 14.5.2, for information on member templates.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following code example demonstrates the error:


//test.cpp
// compiler option needed: none

template<class T> class string {
public:
	template<class T2> int compare(const T2&);
	template<class T2> string(const string<T2>& s) {}  // inline definition OK 
	//  ...
};
 
template <class T> template<class T2> int string<T>::compare(const T2& s)
				// error C2059 and C2065 
{
	//  ...		// Out-of-class-definition		
}

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbLangCPP kbVC kbVC500 kbVC500bug kbVC600 kbVC600bug
Version : winnt:5.0,6.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug