FIX: Cannot Access Private Member from Friend Class

 Last reviewed: September 18, 1997
Article ID: Q115854
7.00 | 1.00 1.50 | 1.00 
MS-DOS | WINDOWS   | WINDOWS NT
kbtool kbfixlist kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to: 

  The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with:

    - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
    - Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

When compiling the code below, the C/C++ compiler will incorrectly report the following error: 

   C2248: 'ptr' : cannot access private member declared in class 'X'

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Visual C++ version 2.0.

MORE INFORMATION

The following sample can be used to demonstrate this problem.

Sample Code

/* Compile options needed: none
*/

#include <iostream.h>
class C { 
   class X;
   class Y;

   class X
   {
      X* ptr;
      friend Y;
   };

   class Y
   {
      X* x;
    public:
      X* lookat() { return x->ptr; }           /* Error: C2248 */
   };
}; 

void main( void )
{ 
   cout << "PASSED" << endl;
}

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.50 7.00 8.00 8.00c
KBCategory: kbtool kbfixlist kbbuglist
KBSubcategory: CPPIss
Keywords : CPPIss kbbuglist kbfixlist kbtool
Version : 7.00 | 1.00 1.50 | 1.00
Platform : MS-DOS NT WINDOWS
Solution Type : kbfix

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Last reviewed: September 18, 1997
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