Re: How to use map containers whith odjects of user classes

I want to use a map container with objects of the following class
rectangle. Each object will be accosiated with a key of type string:.

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <map>

using namespace std;

class rectangle
{
 float side_a;
 float side_b;
public:
 float area() {return side_a * side_b;}
 rectangle(float a, float b) {side_a=a; side_b=b;}
};

map<string,rectangle> mymap;

main()
{
    rectangle rec1(10,20);

    //the following statment does not compile
    mymap["table"] = rec1;
    system("pause");
}

1. The statment mymap["trapezi"] = rec1; supposed to add a new element in
the map with the key "table" and value the object rec1 but it doesnt
compile. why?

2. If I finaly manage to add a new element how can I have access to the
mebers of the rectangle object in a map element ?