Q153801: BUG: C2352 Error for Reference to Nested Class Member

Article: Q153801
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbLangCPP kbVC kbVC500bug
Last Modified: 31-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to build the sample code below, you will get an error message
similar to the following:

  error C2352: 'A::AA::m' : illegal call of nonstatic member function

CAUSE
=====

This behavior occurs because you are attempting to access a member of a nested
class that has been used as a base class. It is valid to do this. The compiler
should not be reporting an error, and, in this case, the error that is being
reported is misleading.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around the problem, you can use a typedef to refer to the nested class
that is being used as a base class. This is illustrated in the sample code
below.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

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

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

  /* Compile options needed: none
  */ 

The following code reproduces the problem:

     class A
     {
     public:

         class AA
         {
         public:
             void m();
         };
     };

     class B : public A::AA
     {
     public:
         void m() { A::AA::m(); }
     };

     void main()
     {
         B b;
     }

The following code works around the problem (note the use of the typedef):

     class A
     {
     public:

         class AA
         {
         public:
             void m();
         };
     };

     typedef A::AA NestedBase;

     class B : public NestedBase
     {
     public:
         void m() { NestedBase::m(); }
     };

     void main()
     {
         B b;
     }

Additional query words: kbVC400bug 10.00 10.10 10.20

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbLangCPP kbVC kbVC500bug 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC500Search
Version           : :4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0
Issue type        : kbbug

=============================================================================

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