Q140605: PRB: C2059 When Declaring Friend Template Functions in a Class

Article: Q140605
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): winnt:
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbprb
Last Modified: 03-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- The C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - *EDITOR Please do not choose this product*Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition* use 241, 265, 225, version 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Attempting to declare a friend template function in a class definition may
result in the following errors:

  error C2059: syntax error: 'template'

  error C2238: unexpected token(s) preceding ';'

CAUSE
=====

This is a relatively new language feature that is currently not supported by the
Visual C++ 4.0 compiler. For example, the following code will generate the
errors noted above.

Sample Code
-----------

  /* Compile options needed: none
  */ 
  class A;
  template <class T> void f(T, A *a)  { a->x; }

  class A
  {
  private:
     int x;
     template <class T> friend void f(T, A*);
  };

  int main(void)
  {
     A a;
     f(5, &a);
     f(1.5, &a);
     return 0;
  }

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: 4.00

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Keywords          : kbCompiler kbprb 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : winnt:
Issue type        : kbprb

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