Q115708: FIX: C++ Compiler Treats &array[][] as 2-D Array of References

Article: Q115708
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVCkbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 26-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.0, 1.5 
   - *EDITOR Please do not choose this product*Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition* use 241, 265, 225, version 1.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Attempting to call a class constructor using a reference to a two dimensional
array of objects will cause the compiler to incorrectly treat the array as a two
dimensional array of references. In the sample below, the following errors will
be incorrectly generated:

  test.cpp(6) : error C2234: arrays of references are illegal
  test.cpp(6) : error C2511: '__ctor' : overloaded member function not found in
  'X'

CAUSE
=====

The compiler is interpreting

     int (&iref)[10][10];

as if it was written:

     int & iref[10][10];

It is not legal in C++ to use a pointer to a reference, so an array of references
is also not legal.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the C/C++ compiler for MS-DOS,
versions 7.0, 8.0, and 8.0c and the 32-bit C/C++ compiler, version 8.0. This
problem was corrected in compiler version 9.0, included with Visual C++ version
2.0.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following code can be used to demonstrate this problem.

Sample Code
-----------

  /* Compile options needed: /c
  */ 

  class X
  {
      int m_arr[10][10];
  public:
      X() {}
      X( int (&iref)[10][10] ) {}
  };

  void main()
  {
  }

Additional query words: 7.00 8.00 8.00c 1.00 1.50

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Keywords          : kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVC kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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