1.h
#include<string>
using namespace std;
string str = "Not null!";
int inum = 123;

1.cpp
#include<iostream>
#include"1.h"
using namespace std;
extern string str; // #1
extern int inum; // #2

int main()
{
   cout<<"str is "<<str<<endl;
   cout<<"inum is "<<inum<<endl;
   return 0;
}

The compiler is vc6.0 and the result is:
str is
inum is 123

If delete the sentence of #1 £¬the result is :
str is Not null!
inum is 123

I know the sentences of #1 and #2 should be deleted,as 1.h is
a head file,not cpp file.But why the inum's value always is 123?
Does it has some matter with the compiler?




niuwei

__________________
niuwei

I compiled this program with Borland C++5.5,it's OK.So I think it does have something to do with the compiler.

niuwei

I'm not sure, but it seems to be a problem with string class and how it manages memory. str retains the value and its memory address until just before the main starts excecuting and loose them as soon as excecution enters main.

Try the same program with char* and you would see no such problem.

Ankur

Thank you,Ankur.Yes,char * is OK.
I think the program below can make us more clearly of how VC6.0 works.
class AA
{
public:

    AA() : v(0)
    {
        ++count;
        cout << "Default constructor" << endl;
    }
    AA(int d) : v(d)
    {
        ++count;
        cout << "constructor" << endl;
    }
    ~AA()
    {
        --count;
    }
    void Show()
    {
        cout << "v=" << v << "\tcount=" << count << endl;
    }

private:
    int v;
    static int count;
};

int AA::count = 0;


AA a(5);
extern AA a; // A new object a is generated
int main()
{
    {
        AA b(4);
        b.Show(); // Now three objects have been generated.
    }
    a.Show();
}

// The result
constructor
Default constructor
constructor
v=4 count=3
v=0 count=2
Press any key to continue


So we can see clearly that VC6 generated a new object when running to
the code of "extern string str" and the former object was covered.



niuwei