Re: What should function returning a reference return on failure?

From:
"werasm" <w_erasm@telkomsa.net>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
9 May 2006 10:23:55 -0700
Message-ID:
<1147195435.361080.253270@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
Phlip wrote:

Alf P. Steinbach wrote:

* Phlip:

4) pass an optional sentinel object into FindMap, and return that.


5) return an iterator, and check if that == .end().

If the caller passes no sentinel, construct the NullObject one and
return it:

CMap& FindMap(
               const unsigned int MapNumber,
               CMap const & sentinel = NullMap() );


Oh, my. That's not const-correct. What's the fix?


Leave out the 'const'.


CMap & found = FindMap(2);

Now found refers to the temporary NullMap(), which destructed somewhere
around ;.


Should not work - cannot bind an rvalue (temporary) to a non-constant
reference. I know it compiles under MS VC++ 7.1, but that is erroneous.
This leaves you with this option (or an exception):
....
{
  std::map<unsigned int, CMap*>::iterator ThisMapIt =
    World.Maps.find( ThisPlayer.Character.Map );

  if ( ThisMapIt != World.Maps.end() )
  {
    return *((*ThisMapIt).second);
  }
  else
  {
    //Same base type as CMap, but you know that!
    static NullMap sentinal;
    return sentinal;
  }
}

--
  Phlip
  http://www.greencheese.us/ZeekLand <-- NOT a blog!!!

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