Explicit specialization [ Template ]

From:
AY <techrepository@gmail.com>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++.moderated
Date:
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:59:23 CST
Message-ID:
<4ec191b2-3c52-4d58-b94d-e74ed054f102@c29g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>
Hi there,

I'm trying to Override a generic version of swapvalue for char. But it
still call's the generic version. Here is the sample code -

template<typename T>
void swapvalues(T& src, T& dest)
{
    T temp;
    temp = src;
    src = dest;
    dest = temp;
    cout<<"Inside swapvalue [template]"<<endl;
}

// Override of generic version.
void swapvalues(char& src, char& dest)
{
          /*
    char* temp = NULL;
    *temp = src;
    src = dest;
    dest = *temp;
          */
    cout<<"Inside swapvalue [char]"<<endl;
    cout<<"src = "<<src<<" : dest = "<<dest<<endl;

}

int main()
{
    int i=5, j = 7;
    char* srcCh = "ABC";
    char* destCh = "XYZ";

    swapvalues(srcCh, destCh); // Template version is called, despite
address being passed.

         // Isn't this the correct way of passing char* to char& ?
    //swapvalues(*srcCh, *destCh); // Rt way of calling

    cout<<srcCh<<" : "<<destCh<<endl;
    return 0;
}

I thought this was the correct way of assigning char* to char&.

char* srcCh = "ABC"
char& refCh = *srcCh; // OK ! Reference is pointing to "ABC";

A tiny hint [ or if time permits a little elaboration ] on why the
explicit specialization is ignored is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
- AY.

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