Ok, when passing an argument to a function, like so: void CSURFACE::Rect_Crop(SMALL_RECT &rCrop, const SMALL_RECT &rFrame, SMALL_RECT &rMod) I want to make the last argument (rMod) optional. I think the way you would do this with an integer, or so, would be to say: SomeFunction(int x = 0) Am I right? Is there an ''elegant'' way to do this? Or do I have to force it by defining a "default rectangle", or using pointers? Is there some other way to make an arguement optional other than the one I listed?

Use function overloading and create a function:

void CSURFACE::Rect_Crop(SMALL_RECT &rCrop, const SMALL_RECT &rFrame)

that way if the last parameter is specified it will call the first function, and if it is not specified, it would call this function.

________________________
Grab your sword, and get prepared for the SolidSteel RPG engine, coming soon...(i.e. when it''s done)

Goy... that''s not very elegant. I would have to rewrite most of the code twice, or create a new 3rd function both of them call. Or, no... I guess I could have the one with 3 arguements call the one with 2... but that''s still pretty ugly. I know there''s a better way to do this... there has to be. All I want to do is have 1 block of code that executes if the argument is supplied. Anyone else?

Oh, do you want it totally optional, or do you want a default value to be used when an argument is not specified.

If you want the default case then try:
someFunction(int something = 2 );

as the function prototype.

Then you could call someFunction(4); or someFunction();

In the function definition though, just do:
someFunction(int something)
{
//stuff
}

of course, using a struct, you would possibly need to supply a different constructor and such, but that''s how you pass default parameters.

________________________
Grab your sword, and get prepared for the SolidSteel RPG engine, coming soon...(i.e. when it''s done)

When you have a struct, say:
struct wow {
int x,y;
char *s;
};

You can declare a variable by saying,
wow var={1,50,NULL};

If you''re lucky, that''ll work inside the parameter list, too.

quote: Original post by Beowulf_
void CSURFACE::Rect_Crop(SMALL_RECT &rCrop, const SMALL_RECT &rFrame, SMALL_RECT &rMod)

I want to make the last argument (rMod) optional.

OK, there''s a few ways of doing that...

quote:
I think the way you would do this with an integer, or so, would be to say:

SomeFunction(int x = 0)

That''s parameter defaulting, which is not exactly the same thing as having an optional argument. However, you can use this to achieve the same effect, but it requires you to have a state of SMALL_RECT which represents null. Then you would only process rMod when its state is not equal to the null state.

If there isn''t any possibility of representing such a state, then you need to use a combination of overloading and forwarding, as has been suggested by others.

Then there''s always passing it as a pointer, instead of a reference.

void CSURFACE::Rect_Crop(SMALL_RECT &rCrop, const SMALL_RECT &rFrame, SMALL_RECT *rMod=NULL)

Ok, to get down to it, what i REALLY want to do, is to make it completely optional. I just thought the only way to do this was to include a default value. How do you go about making an argument completely optional, and how do you check if it was supplied?

I was going to suggest using ellipses, which I believe would work except I notice that you have "SMALL_RECT &rMod". I don''t think it is possible to have a parameter that you are taking in by reference be optional.

If you don''t have to take it in by references then ellipses will work.

quote: Original post by Beowulf_
Ok, to get down to it, what i REALLY want to do, is to make it completely optional.

It all depends what you mean by ''completely optional''.

- If the function is supposed to fill in a default value ... use a default argument.

- If the function is supposed to behave differently, write an overloaded function. (No, that''s not inelegant.)

- If you want an arbitrary number of NON-CLASS arguments, use a variadic function.

You can combine the first two options as Sabreman pointed out, by making your default a unique ''null'' value representing the absence of arguments.




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