«

#include <iostream.h>

class Cat
{
public:
static HowManyCats;
private:
int itsage;
};

int Cat::HowManyCats=5;

int main()
{
cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
}

The above is right, but the below is wrong, why cannot I declare
static data member in the class which it belong to?


#include <iostream.h>

class Cat
{
public:
static int HowManyCats;
private:
int itsage;
};

Cat::HowManyCats=5;

int main()
{
cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
}


The following is still not true, why? can I declare the static member
inside the main function? And if I remove the int from the int
Cat::HowManyCats=5;statement, it passed the compile, but still blocked
when building, can anybody explain this for me?

#include <iostream.h>

class Cat
{
public:
static HowManyCats;
private:
int itsage;
};


int main()
{
int Cat::HowManyCats=5;
cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;

}

* :
> #include <iostream.h>

Note: this is a non-standard header. Some compilers lack this header. You should use

#include <iostream>

which is a standard header.


> class Cat
> {
> public:
> static HowManyCats;
> private:
> int itsage;
> };
>
> int Cat::HowManyCats=5;
>
> int main()
> {
> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
> }
>
> The above is right, but the below is wrong, why cannot I declare
> static data member in the class which it belong to?
>
>
> #include <iostream.h>
>
> class Cat
> {
> public:
> static int HowManyCats;
> private:
> int itsage;
> };
>
> Cat::HowManyCats=5;

This definition lacks a type.


> int main()
> {
> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
> }
>
>
> The following is still not true, why? can I declare the static member
> inside the main function? And if I remove the int from the int
> Cat::HowManyCats=5;statement, it passed the compile, but still blocked
> when building, can anybody explain this for me?
> #include <iostream.h>
>
> class Cat
> {
> public:
> static HowManyCats;
> private:
> int itsage;
> };
>
>
> int main()
> {
> int Cat::HowManyCats=5;
> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
>
> }

When you remove the 'int' in the code above you have an expression instead of a
declaration. An expression followed by a semicolon is a valid C++ statement. For
example,

42;

is a valid C++ statement where the value of the expression is discarded.

You should up your compiler's warning level so that it warns about statements
with no effect.

With g++ you can do that with '-Wall', with Visual C++ you can do that with '/W4'.

You get a link error because in this latest code there is no definition of
'Cat::HowManyCats'.

It has been declared but not defined.


Cheers & hth.,

- Alf

* Alf P. Steinbach:
> * :
>> #include <iostream.h>
>
> Note: this is a non-standard header. Some compilers lack this header.
> You should use
>
> #include <iostream>
>
> which is a standard header.
>
>
>> class Cat
>> {
>> public:
>> static HowManyCats;
>> private:
>> int itsage;
>> };
>>
>> int Cat::HowManyCats=5;
>>
>> int main()
>> {
>> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
>> }
>>
>> The above is right, but the below is wrong, why cannot I declare
>> static data member in the class which it belong to?
>>
>>
>> #include <iostream.h>
>>
>> class Cat
>> {
>> public:
>> static int HowManyCats;
>> private:
>> int itsage;
>> };
>>
>> Cat::HowManyCats=5;
>
> This definition lacks a type.
>
>
>> int main()
>> {
>> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
>> }
>>
>>
>> The following is still not true, why? can I declare the static member
>> inside the main function? And if I remove the int from the int
>> Cat::HowManyCats=5;statement, it passed the compile, but still blocked
>> when building, can anybody explain this for me?
>> #include <iostream.h>
>>
>> class Cat
>> {
>> public:
>> static HowManyCats;
>> private:
>> int itsage;
>> };
>>
>>
>> int main()
>> {
>> int Cat::HowManyCats=5;
>> cout<<"HowManyCats="<<Cat::HowManyCats<<endl;
>>
>> }
>
> When you remove the 'int' in the code above you have an expression
> instead of a declaration. An expression followed by a semicolon is a
> valid C++ statement. For example,
>
> 42;
>
> is a valid C++ statement where the value of the expression is discarded.
>
> You should up your compiler's warning level so that it warns about
> statements with no effect.

Note: the particular statement resulting from removing 'int' above has an effect
(it is an assignment). I didn't see that before hitting the Send button. But you
should up your compiler's warning level anyway.


>
> With g++ you can do that with '-Wall', with Visual C++ you can do that
> with '/W4'.
>
> You get a link error because in this latest code there is no definition
> of 'Cat::HowManyCats'.
>
> It has been declared but not defined.
>
>
> Cheers & hth.,
>
> - Alf