C++ programming help - URGENT

[dude8604]

I have a programming assignment due tomorrow that I REALLY need help on. Basically, I want to make a vector-like interface for a singly linked list. I have the [ ] operator overloaded to work with it, but if I say "list[1] = "xyz"", it doesn't work. I know that I need to overload the = operator, but I don't know how I can overload it with [ ] AND =. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's a link to my code if that helps.code

 

[TheDiggler]

For starters, change your method listType::operator[] to return a listType object, not an apstring.
This way, when you do a list[1]="XYZ":
a) First it'll resolve list[1] as a listType object
b) Next it'll invoke the listType::operator= method.

Note: When you're assigning list[1] a value of "XYZ", you're really assigning it a char* value. However, given that your apstring class likely has a constructor which takes a char* value, the compiler creates a hidden temporary apstring object to pass to your listType::operator= method. A cleaner way to invoke the call is:
apstring temp="XYZ";
list[1]=temp; // Where now you're passing an actual apstring object to listType::operator=

*EDIT*
Actually, if you've already written your code such that you're depending on listType::operator[] returning an apstring, a quicker fix is to keep your code more or less AS-IS w/ one important change:

// Change the method prototype to return a REFRENCE to an existing apstring as follows:
apstring& listType::operator[](int num);

Note 1: You'll need to make that change both in your .h file (class definition) and your .cpp file (method implementation).

If your apstring class already has an operator= method (which it should), you don't need an additional operator= method in your listType class for what you're trying to accomplish. This should work; however, it's not the most appropriate way to code things.

Note 2: By returning a REFRENCE to an apstring, you're exposing the data attribute of a listNode object. This is IMO a violation of object oriented programming; however, as I said above, it should take care of what you're trying to accomplish