Changing scope of object

[ultimateguy]

I have two classes, call them class1 and class2. In my main(), I declare a new class object:

class2 stepping_action = new class2;

stepping_action has a variable called "contained" that is a boolean.

What I need to do is change the value of this variable from within class1. When I try, it tells me that stepping_action is not in the right scope. I have tried declaring stepping_action outside of the main but I still get the same error.

How can I change this variable from class1?

[drkybelk]

Well there are several possible errors you have here:
class2 x = new class1;
did you mean: ???

class2* x = new class1;

And this code only will work, if class1 is derived from class2.
Changing a value in a base class is only possible if the member is public or protected. Both is considered bad practice and best avoided. You can provide public/protected getter/setters, though, with the help of which you can do the intended changes.

class Base
{
    bool m_bool;
public:
   void set(bool b)
   {
      m_bool = b;
   }
   bool get()
   {
      return m_bool;
   }
};

class Derived : public Base
{
public:
    void someFunc()
    {
        set(false); // this sets the value of the Base class to false
    }
};

/// in your main
Base* pBase = new Derived;
pBase->someFunc(); // call the set method of Base indirectly though someFunc

Is that what you need? If not, probably you postsome of you code, indicating where your error occurs.

Cheers,
D

[ultimateguy]

I fixed the problem. Thanks!