How to use auto_ptr with char*

auto_ptr is not designed to use with array. Note that, the destructor of auto_ptr
will delete  the  pointer to "an object or an primary type : char, int ..." not array.

    ~auto_ptr()
     {
           if (_Owns)
                delete _Ptr;  

          // note : syntax for deleting  array  ==> delete  [ ] _Ptrt
     }

Therefore, if you use  auto_ptr with array , you will have trouble.

For example
   
          main()
         {
                char *p = new char[200] ;
                auto_ptr<char>  X(  p );              
         }

At the time the program finished, destructor of X wil do
             delete _Ptr;      // _Ptr == p

however, what you expect  is    
            delete [ ] _Ptr
         
In conclusion, you can not use auto_ptr with array. If you want, you need to write
auto_array_ptr .

More information : http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/20_util/howto.html#1

>>how to get it to work with char*
Well, if you're looking for a safe way of handling strings, why not use the std::string?

>>Can some post an example

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int main()
{
  std::string   strExample;
  strExample = "Hello World!";
  std::cout << strExample << std::endl;
}

Thanks

IainHere,
Thanks, but I'm already familiar with string.

Not that you have to answer, but what are you planning to do with this array of chars?  If it's not a string, why not use a std::vector<char>?  
I'm only asking because I can't think of a circumstance where I'd rather wrap an array of chars in an auto_array_ptr than use something else.

IainHere ,

Here is a  stituation.  Assume we use  char *getString( ... )  of 3rd party library.  
The function requires us to delete return value after using it.

I mean
 
     char *p = getString(...);

    // access p .....

    // release memory as getString require
    delete [] p;

If we have auto_array_ptr, we can do


    auto_array_ptr<char> p (  getString(...)  );

Fair Nuf :-)