Q138446: FIX: Inlined Templated Member Functions Cannot Be Specialized

Article: Q138446
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 2.0 2.1 2.2 4.0 4.1 4.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 30-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- The C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0, 4.1 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 4.2 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 4.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When specializing a member function that is defined inside the class template,
the specialized member function never gets called although there is no compiler
error or linker error reported.

RESOLUTION
==========

Do not define the member function in the class template. See the Sample Code
below for an example.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

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

Sample Code to Reproduce Problem
--------------------------------

     /* Compile options needed: Default
     */ 
     # include <iostream.h>
     template<class T>
     struct TempStruct
     {
      void bar() { cout << "Template generated" << endl; }
      // Change the previous line into a comment and execute the following
      // line to work around the problem:
      // void bar();
     };
     // Execute the following lines to work around the problem:
     // template <class T>
     // inline void TempStruct<T>::bar()
     // {
     //   cout << "Template generated" << endl;
     // }
     void TempStruct<float>::bar()
     {
        cout << "Template specialized" << endl;
     }
     void main()
     {
         TempStruct<int> F1;
         TempStruct<float> F2;
         F1.bar();
         F2.bar();
     }
     // The output from the program is:
        Template generated
        Template generated
     // The output should be:
        Template generated
        Template specialized

Additional query words: 9.0 9.00 10.0 10.00 10.10 10.20

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : 2.0 2.1 2.2 4.0 4.1 4.2
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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