Componentmanager design C++

[ParaToxic]

Hei there I have here a little problem with the design of a componentmanager.

My idea is it to make a componentmanager, which loads components and add them to a map.Then the component can be login to the mainthread or to a extern thread, which will be created.

 

Now the problem is, that I use Polymorphism to make a baseclass ( here IComponent ) and inherit this from my first component , the IConsole. When I write ISmartPointer<IComponent> _console(new IConsole); I can add that to the map, because I have always this IComponent as baseclass.So I add it to a map,lets say std::map<std::string,IComponent*> _map;

 

Now I have virtual Functions in the IComponent class like Update,Initialize and Terminate. This virtual functions are defined in the component itself.

But now the problem is that I wan't to call functions from the IConsole itself.There is for example a function LoginVar(...), but I can't write _console.get()->LoginVar(), because I have IComponent as the baseclass and this class haven't got a virtual function LoginVar.....

 

This is a big problem.I want that I can add the Components to a map ( I think that the best way is to make it with Polymorphim), but also call the specific functions...

 

I hope you can help me

Thanks

[Rick]

You'd have to cast it to your specific component.

[ParaToxic]

Look at that:

#ifndef ICOMPONENTMANAGER_H_
#define ICOMPONENTMANAGER_H_
#pragma once
#include "engine.h"
#include "GlobalDefine.h"
#include "IComponent.h"
#include "IConsole.h"
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <map>
class IComponentManager
{
public:
   IComponentManager(void);
   ~IComponentManager(void);
   IResult Initialize(HINSTANCE hinst);
   IResult Terminate();
   void Update();
   //--------------Console---------------//

   template<typename T>
   inline void Console_LoginVar(std::string const& name, T& ref) { _debugConsole.get()->LoginVar(name,ref); } // That doesn't work because the baseclass hasn't got a function LoginVar, only the IConsole class
   //------------------------------------//

private:
   ISmartPointer<IComponent> _debugConsole;
   std::map<std::string,IComponent*> _mainThread;
   std::map<std::string,IComponent*>::iterator _mainItr;
   std::map<std::string,std::pair<IComponent*,HANDLE>> _externThread;

   void LoginMainThread(std::string s,IComponent* comp);
   void LoginExternThread(std::string s,IComponent* comp);

};

#endif

[Ruki]

_debugConsole.get()->LoginVar(name,ref)

 

cast

_debugConsole.get() to iConsole

 

( (iConsole*)_debugConsole.get() )->LoginVar( name, ref )

or

( (iConsole*)(_debugConsole.get()) )->LoginVar( name, ref )

 

perhaps?

[Ruki]

If that works, you might want to make a function that will cast it for you, such as

 

iConsole* get_iConsole( BaseClass baseclassIn )
{
// Check for type
if ( baseClassIn->type == TYPE_iCONSOLE )
// return
Return (iConsole *)baseClassIn;
else
// Return
return NULL;
}

 

which will simplify the casting for you and check the inherited item is the right type before trying to call ->LoginVar on it?

 

I wrote a whole gui system based on inheritance and it turned out to be more hassle than it's worth because of all this casting stuff, good luck!

[ChrisMAN]

:trollface:

[ParaToxic]

Are you kidding me ???? Thanks so much , have to look to the old whise C++ book.....

With static_cast you can take the functions of the baseclass directly : static_cast<IConsole*>(_debugConsole.get())->Test();