Kerby

SampleClass object creates an object of "SampleClass" type
SampleClass *object creates a POINTER to an object of "SampleClass" type

object.somefunction() accesses "somefunction" within the object "object"
object->somefunction() dereferences a pointer to "object" to access "somefunction"

For you I think the "journey of a thousand miles" should start with the "first step" of carefully reading a few basic text books :-)

Read up on Objects and Pointers

Hope this helps

Alan