[C++-sig] Re: iterators and abstact base class

[David Abrahams]

Francois Ostiguy <ostiguy at fnal.gov> writes:

> Hi -
>
> This has to be an FAQ. I searched the list archives and I was not able
> locate a satisfactory solution to the following problem:
>
> Assume an abstract base class A and a derived class B. I have an iterator
> I for a container C holding B-type objects.  The iterator returns a
> pointer to the base class A.
> At runtime, I.next() 

?? This is a standard C++ iterator, or something else??

> returns a type A which cannot be instantiated.

Clearly it can't return A; it can return a reference to A, though.

> I would like to iterate through my container and call a (virtual) function
> on each element.  Can you point me to an idiom/technique that would
> allow me to accomplish this ?

Is this a Python/C++ question, a straight C++ question, or something
else?  Too many details are missing.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
www.boost-consulting.com