How to work with class members?

[new cppUser]

I have the following code to test my understanding of headers and source files:

Header:

#ifndef TESTABLE_H_
#define TESTABLE_H_

class Testable{
public:
	Testable();
	~Testable();
	void someMethod();
	bool isConnected;
	char data;
};



#endif /* TESTABLE_H_ */

Source:

#include "Testable.h"
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

Testable::Testable(){
	isConnected = true;
	data = 'a';
}

Testable::~Testable(){
	isConnected = false;
}

void Testable::someMethod(){
	data = 'b';
}

int main(){
	Testable objectA;
	cout << objectA.data;
	
	return 0;
}

However, in the source file, data is not being recognized as a member and I am given "Symbol 'data' could not be resolved" for those 3 instances of data. What am I not understanding?

[Chervil]

I don't quite understand the error message you describe.

However, you have twice defined the constructor at lines 6 and 11
Testable::Testable()

but the definition for the destructor is missing
Testable::~Testable() { }

[new cppUser]

Oops, minor typo.

I still cannot access data from within the methods in the source file on lines 8, 16, or 21.

When a variable is declared in the class, shouldn't it be accessible by all the class's methods?

[Peter87]

There is no problem with the code you have posted.

[new cppUser]

There is no problem with the code you have posted.

I forgot to save Testable.h after adding char data;.

I also forgot to add delete objectA; after the cout.

Thanks!

[Chervil]

Are there any other #includes or other code which might have the name 'data'?
Perhaps there's some naming conflict due to using namespace std;
Try removing that line and explicitly put std::cout

[Peter87]

delete is used to delete objects allocated with new. delete objectA; shouldn't even compile because objectA is not a pointer. objectA will be deleted automatically when it goes out of scope.

[new cppUser]

delete is used to delete objects allocated with new. delete objectA; shouldn't even compile because objectA is not a pointer. objectA will be deleted automatically when it goes out of scope.

If objectA is automatically deleted when it goes out of scope, instantiating via
Testable objectA;
why is
Testable *objectA = new Testable;
not automatically deleted when out of scope?

[Chervil]

why is
Testable *objectA = new Testable;
not automatically deleted when out of scope?

The pointer objectA will be automatically deleted. But the object that it is pointing to will remain, unless it is explicitly deleted.

[Raezzor]

The pointer is automatically deleted? I thought that once you delete the pointer to the dynamic object it automatically calls the destructor for that class?

[Chervil]

Maybe a misuse of terminology.

take this example:

    {
         int x = 1;
         int * p = new int;
    }
    // at this point, both x and p have gone out of scope and no longer exist.
    // but the integer pointed to by p still exists. Though we have no way
    // to access it now  

[Peter87]

When you do delete objectA; it doesn't delete the pointer. It deletes what the pointer points to.