Re: type casting function pointers - C / C++ / MFC Discussion Boards

Re: Visual C++ . NET [ 2003] & Express 2005?

thierrypp16-Mar-06 8:52

16-Mar-06 8:52

thanks a lot,

So...

I was hesitating as I earlier kept the Visual C++.Net.

In fact up to this month, Visual C++ 6.0 was offering the advantage to provide a lot of tips..etc.. as well as books, references.

Instaed than VC++.Net stayed almost without publication and not so much referenced.

So,as an expert, your advice would be to jump on Visual C++ Express Edition 2005 [ even if beta version] and programming with C++ is fine. However, programming Windows changes a lot, requires SDK and Direct X 9 are a plus .

And this is the end of VC++ 6 ( a pity honestly if we consider the difficulties to convert from VC++ 6)

thanks a lot

Regards

TPP

type casting function pointers

Martijn van Kleef16-Mar-06 4:01

Martijn van Kleef

16-Mar-06 4:01

Why can I cast a pointer to a static non-class function to DWORD (for example), but not a pointer to a non-static class function? (The compiler generates an error if you try)
ie:
DWORD dw1 = (DWORD)fnStaticGlobalFunc; // OK
DWORD dw2 = (DWORD)pMyClass->fnClassLocalFunc; // Error

Re: type casting function pointers

toxcct16-Mar-06 4:07

toxcct

16-Mar-06 4:07

Martijn van Kleef wrote:
The compiler generates an error if you try

and what does it say ?

Re: type casting function pointers

Martijn van Kleef16-Mar-06 5:02

Martijn van Kleef

16-Mar-06 5:02

Sorry, didn't include it because this:
c:\Documents and Settings\Martijnv\My Documents\Visual Studio Projects\TestWin32Console\TestWin32Console\TestWin32Console.cpp(193) : error C2440: 'type cast' : cannot convert from 'void (__thiscall X::* )(void)' to 'DWORD'
There is no context in which this conversion is possible

...still doesn't tell me why I CAN cast the static global function to DWORD but CANNOT cast the non-static class member function.

Re: type casting function pointers

Michael Dunn16-Mar-06 5:19

Michael Dunn

16-Mar-06 5:19

Notice the __thiscall X:: part of the type - that means the function is a member of class X and takes a X* parameter (which becomes this in the method). You can't cast that away.

--Mike--
Visual C++ MVP Cool | :cool:

LINKS~! Ericahist | NEW!! PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ

Re: type casting function pointers

mzdude16-Mar-06 5:04

mzdude

16-Mar-06 5:04

For non class functions, the compiler knows exactly where the function resides.

For class members it doesn't.

class base {
public: virtual void fn() {}
};

class derrived {
public: virtual void fn() {}
};

base *p = new derrived;
DWORD dw = (DWORD)p->fn; // which fn??

Re: type casting function pointers

toxcct16-Mar-06 5:13

toxcct

16-Mar-06 5:13

that's false. a member function is not duplicate for each instances of the class. the member functions bodies are loaded once in memory. only the implicit this parameter differs depending who call it.

Re: type casting function pointers

Dan McCormick16-Mar-06 5:21

Dan McCormick

16-Mar-06 5:21

C++ refuses to 'throw away' the class association of the non-static class method, which is what is happening in the example you give with the class method. The compiler basically says, "If I lose the class association for this method, I won't be able to tie this method back to an instance of the class."

It's not an issue with the a global (i.e. non-class ) function because there is no class association. It's also not a problem with a static class method. Static class methods aren't much more than global functions that are 'hidden' inside a class namespace. They don't have an instance of the class associated with them when they are invoked.

If you really, really, really need to get the value as a DWORD, you can use a union to get there.

<br />
class CSomeClass<br />
{<br />
public:<br />
    void SomeMethod();<br />
};<br />
<br />
union<br />
{<br />
    DWORD dwValue;<br />
    void (CSomeClass::*pMethod)();<br />
} Address;<br />
<br />
// Assume pSomeClass points to an instance of CSomeClass;<br />
<br />
Address.pMethod = pSomeClass->SomeMethod;<br />
<br />
// You can now retrieve the 'address' of SomeMethod using<br />
// Address.dwValue<br />
<br />

Note that this technique is not implementation independent! Run on a machine that uses pointers that are not 32-bits and you have a problem.

Regards,
Dan

Remember kids, we're trained professionals.
Don't try this at home!

Re: type casting function pointers

Martijn van Kleef16-Mar-06 21:59

Martijn van Kleef

16-Mar-06 21:59

Actually that won't work..
If I use the union solution posted previously my compiler (Visual Studio .NET 2003) complains:

error C2475: 'CSomeClass::SomeMethod' : forming a pointer-to-member requires explicit use of the address-of operator ('&') and a qualified name

An implementation according to the suggestion of the compiler seems to work though:

Address.pMethod = &CSomeClass::SomeMethod;

But now, where on earth did all the fuss about the this pointer go?? Did I just seem to have discarded it??

Re: type casting function pointers

Dan McCormick17-Mar-06 1:34

Dan McCormick

17-Mar-06 1:34

Well, look at that - another syntax / semantics change from VC++ 6 to 2003/2005. Grumble, grumble, grumble... But yes, I just tried the variation you describe under 2005 and it does the trick.

Anyway, it's not that you are discarding a specific 'this' pointer. The issue is that you are not discarding the class association.

If you try to cast &CSomeClass::SomeMethod to something else such as:

DWORD dw = (DWORD) &CSomeClass::SomeMethod;

the compiler will still complain because this conversion would force it to discard the class association. (Actual error message under 2005 says,"There is no context in which this conversion is possible")

Dan

Remember kids, we're trained professionals.
Don't try this at home!

how to create a virtual serial port, and to monitor it

szilics16-Mar-06 2:35

szilics

16-Mar-06 2:35

Hello friends, has anybody knowledge about creating virtual serial ports, because I must write a program which can create virtual serial ports and be able to monitor the communication on these virtual serial ports.

Thank you for your help in advance! Smile | :)

szilard

-- modified at 8:40 Thursday 16th March, 2006

Re: how to create a virtual serial port, and to monitor it

Chris Gao16-Mar-06 9:21

Chris Gao

16-Mar-06 9:21

Hi Szilard,

Well, i don't know how to do it by myself, however, maybe these websites can help a bit:

http://www.lvr.com/serport.htm[^]

http://www.eltima.com/products/virtual_drivers/[^]

Best regards,

Chris

Printing without a printer

Waldermort16-Mar-06 2:33

Waldermort

16-Mar-06 2:33

Like the title says, I want to add some printing functions to my code, a NON-MFC windows app, without having a printer installed on my system. Oh what a crazy world we live in.

Is there some way to fool my PC into thinking there is a printer installed? Every time I try to call one of the Common Dialog print routines I am faced with a "Please install a printer you cheap artist" message.

Hey I do all my printing at work, what do I wanna go and spend a few hundred bucks on a printer I will never use for?

Re: Printing without a printer

Jack Puppy16-Mar-06 2:49

Jack Puppy

16-Mar-06 2:49

Pdf995 Printer Driver

It works like a printer, only it sends output to a .pdf file. It has an annoying ad in it though - there's another free pdf writer available without ads, but I can't remember the name of it. (cutepdf?)

"My dog worries about the economy. Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That's almost seven dollars in dog money" - Wacky humour found in a business magazine

Re: Printing without a printer

Waldermort16-Mar-06 3:12

Waldermort

16-Mar-06 3:12

Thanks for the tip, I never thought of using a print to pdf driver.

Having a little trouble with the pdf995 website, but I am downloading the cutepdf alternative you mentioned.

Re: Printing without a printer

Ryan Binns16-Mar-06 17:24

Ryan Binns

16-Mar-06 17:24

You can install a printer without actually having the printer. I've done it lots of times. Just tell it to print to a file instead of a port.

Ryan

"Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"

CreateProcess Method

Subramaniam s.V.16-Mar-06 2:04

Subramaniam s.V.

16-Mar-06 2:04

Hi,

I tried to create a process(notepad.exe) using the CreateProcess method. But the method failes throwing a Exception.

Could any one please tell why this following code snippet is failing.

PROCESS_INFORMATION pProcessInfo;

BOOL bStatus = CreateProcess("C:\\WINDOWS\\Notepad.exe",NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE,NULL,NULL,NULL,&pProcessInfo);

Regards

Re: CreateProcess Method

Hamid_RT16-Mar-06 2:11

Hamid_RT

16-Mar-06 2:11

PROCESS_INFORMATION pProcessInfo;
STARTUPINFO si= {0};
si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
BOOL bStatus = CreateProcess("c:\\WINDOWS\\Notepad.exe",NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE,NULL,NULL,&si,&pProcessInfo);

Re: CreateProcess Method

SilentSilent16-Mar-06 3:16

SilentSilent

16-Mar-06 3:16

WhiteSky wrote:

("c:\\WINDOWS\\Notepad.exe",NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE,NULL,NULL,&si,&pProcessInfo);

The Windows directory should not be hard coded.

Re: CreateProcess Method

Michael Dunn16-Mar-06 5:15

Michael Dunn

16-Mar-06 5:15

You're not passing a STARTUPINFO struct.

--Mike--
Visual C++ MVP Cool | :cool:

LINKS~! Ericahist | NEW!! PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ

Re: CreateProcess Method

Chris Gao16-Mar-06 9:26

Chris Gao

16-Mar-06 9:26

Hi Subramaniam,

I don't know what's wrong with your code but I did it like this:

                <br />
STARTUPINFO si;<br />
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;<br />
<br />
// Start the child process. <br />
CreateProcess( NULL,   // No module name (use command line). <br />
	TEXT("C:\\Windows\\system32\\notepad.exe"), // Command line. <br />
	NULL,             // Process handle not inheritable. <br />
	NULL,             // Thread handle not inheritable. <br />
	FALSE,            // Set handle inheritance to FALSE. <br />
	0,                // No creation flags. <br />
	NULL,             // Use parent's environment block. <br />
	NULL,             // Use parent's starting directory. <br />
	&si,              // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure.<br />
	&pi );             // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure.<br />

It works on my computer.

Best regards,

Chris

Re: CreateProcess Method

Stephen Hewitt16-Mar-06 12:04

Stephen Hewitt

16-Mar-06 12:04

When you do get it to work remember no to leak HANDLEs. After the CreateProcess call you need to close some HANDLES it returns if you don't plan on using them:

PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
BOOL bOK = CreateProcess(..., &pi);
if (bOK)
{
     CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
     CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
}

Not closing these handles is a common mistake people calling CreateProcess make.

Also you use the wart "p" on the variable "pProcessInfo" - This is normally used for pointers. You'll confuse people using it on a variable that isn't a pointer.

Steve

Re: CreateProcess Method

Chris Gao16-Mar-06 15:34

Chris Gao

16-Mar-06 15:34

Hi Steve,

I even didn't think about this at all!

Thanks!!

Chris

Re: CreateProcess Method

Subramaniam s.V.16-Mar-06 17:35

Subramaniam s.V.

16-Mar-06 17:35

Hi All,

First of all many thanks to all who have given their valuable suggestion. I am not getting the Exception now but I get an Access Violation error like this in my output window and my notepad doesnt launch.

ChristopherAtCodeProject wrote:
First-chance exception in Threading Sample.exe (NTDLL.DLL): 0xC0000005: Access Violation.

First-chance exception in Threading Sample.exe (NTDLL.DLL): 0xC0000005: Access Violation.

Any help on this please. Do I need to give some security descriptors or something. To the best of my knowledge its not required I suppose as even if we pass NULL to them it will consider the default Security.

Many Thanks

Re: CreateProcess Method

Subramaniam s.V.16-Mar-06 17:48

Subramaniam s.V.

16-Mar-06 17:48

Hi All,

Its working fine now. I had to fill in the STARTUPINFO struture.

Thanks

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