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[on:]

Hi,
I plan to have different classes with similar methods, say "loop()".
I then want to make instances of the classes and store them in an array so I can call loop() of all the objects.

something like:

Code:

Tiger *objArray = [10];

objArray[0] = new Tiger();
//the problem is this
objectArray[1] = new Dog();
objectArray[2] = new Penguin();

void loop() {
    for(int i =0; i < 3; i++) {
        objectArray->loop();
    }

}

So as you can see the array is type Tiger. How can I include Dog and Penguin?

[Reply #1 on:]

Derive them all from the same class.

[Reply #2 on:]

Example:

Code:

class animal
  {
  public: 
  virtual void loop () = 0;   // pure function
  };
 
class Tiger : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Tiger."); }
  };

class Dog : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Dog."); }
  };

class Penguin : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Penguin."); }
  };

animal * objArray [3];
 
void setup ()
  {
  Serial.begin (115200);
  objArray [0] = new Tiger;
  objArray [1] = new Dog;
  objArray [2] = new Penguin;
  }  // end of setup

void loop ()
  {
  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
    objArray [i]->loop ();
  delay (1000);
  }  // end of loop

Output:

Code:

Tiger.
Dog.
Penguin.
Tiger.
Dog.
Penguin.
Tiger.
Dog.
Penguin.

[Reply #3 on:]

Thanks!
I had a feeling that was the answer like in any other language and was looking around how to sub-class in C/Arduino.

[Reply #4 on:]

Oh by the way, is there a destructor function that is called when I delete?

like

delete objArray[0];

do I need a destructor in the class

Code:

void desctructor() {
     //not sure if I need to do this
     delete super;

}

I come from Objective C and we have a dealloc function in every class that cleans up after itself.

[Reply #5 on:]

This is C++ by the way, not some "Arduino language".

If you plan to use a destructor to clean up then the destructors must be virtual, including the base class.

Modified example:

Code:

class animal
  {
  public: 
  virtual void loop () = 0; 
  virtual ~animal () { Serial.println ("animal destructor."); }
  };
 
class Tiger : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Tiger."); }
  virtual ~Tiger () { Serial.println ("Tiger destructor."); }
  };

class Dog : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Dog."); }
  virtual ~Dog () { Serial.println ("Dog destructor."); }
  };

class Penguin : public animal
  {
  public:
  void loop () { Serial.println ("Penguin."); }
  virtual ~Penguin () { Serial.println ("Penguin destructor."); }
  };

animal * objArray [3];
 
void setup ()
  {
  Serial.begin (115200);
  Serial.println ();
 
  objArray [0] = new Tiger;
  objArray [1] = new Dog;
  objArray [2] = new Penguin;

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
    objArray [i]->loop ();

  Serial.println ("Deleting objects ...");

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
     delete objArray [i];
  }  // end of setup

void loop () { }

Output:

Code:

Tiger.
Dog.
Penguin.
Deleting objects ...
Tiger destructor.
animal destructor.
Dog destructor.
animal destructor.
Penguin destructor.
animal destructor.

Be warned that there is a problem with free (and hence delete) in versions of the IDE up to 1.0.3.

You may need to install the fix described here:  Fixing String Crashes