Creating a char array, whose size is given by parameter - C++

Question

I have a class with a static char array. The size of the array is given to me in argv.

I want to do somthing like this:

class ABC {

public:
  static char *buffer;
  ABC(int size) {
    ABC::buffer = new char[size];
  }

}

// in other file:

ABC tempVar(atoi(argv[1]));

but this doesn't seem to work. I get errors like:

Error 2 error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static char * ABC::buffer" (?buffer@ABC@@2PADA) gpslib.lib

How can I fix this?

What purpose would it serve? I don't see any point. Also, avoid using atoi. Use std::stoi (introduced by C++11). — Sarfaraz Nawaz
– Sarfaraz Nawaz, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 13:56
@kakush: Difference is that std::stoi will let you know if the argument is invalid (or there is overlow), while std::atoi will be silent. — Sarfaraz Nawaz
– Sarfaraz Nawaz, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 14:13
@VladLazarenko - I'm using this buffer somewhere else - that's why it is static. and I have only one instance of this class - so there should not be any bugs. — kakush
– kakush, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 14:28

hmjd · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-28 14:00:33Z

5

You need to define the static buffer exactly once, it has only been declared. Add the following to exactly one .cpp file:

char* ABC::buffer;

Note that everytime an instance of ABC is created, the previously allocated buffer will be lost (a memory leak) which is not what you want.

A more robust solution would have buffer as an instance (non-static) member. An even more robust solution would use std::string instead of a char* and have dynamic memory allocation managed for you.

edited Jun 28, 2012 at 14:00

answered Jun 28, 2012 at 13:54

hmjd

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