PSS ID Number: 190966
Article Last Modified on 10/15/2002
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0
- Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2002)
This article was previously published under Q190966
SYMPTOMS
This article focuses on the limitations of IntelliSense when working with templates.
- IntelliSense does not recognize template member functions defined outside of the template class.
When a template member function is defined outside of the template class, it does not appear in an instantiated template object's Member list, and does not provide Parameter and Type Info. It also does not appear in the ClassView pane. With Visual C++ 6.0, the only way to have IntelliSense work correctly with template member functions is to define all member functions inside of the template class declaration.
- Coding inside of nonclass template functions does not fully utilize IntelliSense.
IntelliSense does not parse the bodies of template functions that are not member functions of a class. As a result, most IntelliSense features do not work inside of a template function definition.
- Template class specializations are not properly interpreted by IntelliSense.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
MORE INFORMATION
Consider the following code sample. Comments that are examples are marked with \\EXAMPLE. The code directly below needs to be uncommented in order to reproduce the problem. The comments following the code explain the problem:
Sample Code
//Test.cpp
#include <stdio.h>
// A Template Class
//
template <class T, int i>
class TempClass
{
public:
TempClass(void){}
~TempClass(void){}
int MemberSet(T a, int b);
int GetSize()
{
return arraysize;
}
private:
T Tarray[i];
int arraysize;
};
// A Simple Class
//
class TestClass
{
public:
TestClass(void){}
~TestClass(void){}
int m;
int n;
};
// Template Member Function Defined outside of the template class
//
template <class T, int i>
int TempClass<T, i>::MemberSet(T a, int b)
{
if( ( b >= 0 ) && (b < i) )
{
Tarray[b++] = a;
return sizeof( a );
}
else
return -1;
};
// Template Class
//
template <class T>
class Print
{
public:
// Declare an instance of TestClass
TestClass te;
// EXAMPLE
//te.
// #2 No members displayed
// all types but char
void f(int, double)
{
printf("Print<T>\n");
}
};
// Specialization of Print<class T>
//
template <>
class Print<char>
{
public:
// just for chars
void f(char*)
{
printf("Print<char>\n");
}
};
void main()
{
TempClass<char,10> t;
// EXAMPLE
//t.
// #1 MemberSet is absent from the member list
// MemberSet does not appear in the ClassView pane
// Define MemberSet in the TempClass declaration
// to correct this problem
Print<char> pc;
// EXAMPLE
//pc.f(
// #3
// pc.f Tool tip shows all types but char
// pc.f( Parameter list is int, double
}
REFERENCES
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
153284 Limitations of IntelliSense in Visual C++ 6.0
"Template Topics"; Visual C++ Documentation, Using Visual C++, Visual C++ Programmers Guide, Adding Program Functionality, Details, Template Topics.
"About Automatic Statement Completion;" Visual C++ Documentation, Using Visual C++, Visual C++ Users Guide, Text Editor, Overview: Text Editor, About Automatic Statement Completion.
"Automatically Completing Statements;" Visual C++ Documentation, Using Visual C++, Visual C++ Users Guide, Text Editor, How do I ... Topics: Text Editor, Automatically completing Statements.
Additional query words: kbvc600bug
Keywords: kbBug KB190966
Technology: kbAudDeveloper kbVC32bitSearch kbVC600 kbVCNET kbVCsearch
