asked on

an array of pointers to a managed class

I am having trouble declaring an array of pointers to a managed class. I am REQUIRED to make all my codes managed.
I think my problem is best explained by some code:

namespace ns{
public __gc class node{ ... }; //this is the class i want the array of pointers to point to

public __gc class X{ //I want to use the array of pointers in this clas
node *ptrArray[]; //if i put a constant value in there, the compiler complains
//if i leave it like this it doesnt complain but what do i do with it??

};
}

please help me with this problem

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

AlexFM

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

rtd1983

Managed class instances reside on the managed heap. This heap is not like the unmanaged heap. The managed heap is controlled by the .NET garbage collector. On the managed heap the GC sometimes moves instances to other places on the heap. This kind of behavior causes pointers of managed types to change during time. These actions are performed transparrantly for the programmer. When you like to use managed pointers in unmanaged code you might run into some little problems :P.

So how do we use a managed pointers in unmanaged code?

Fortunatly .NET was expecting this problem and came up with a solution. You have to use the gcroot class. The gcroot class keeps track of a managed class instance on the managed heap. It provides a handle which can be used in unmanaged code to work with the managed object.

Example :

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <gcroot.h>
#using <mscorlib.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

public __gc class MyClass
{
};

int _tmain()
{
      // two methods to make an array of managed objects

      // method #1 : make the array aware that it is pointing to managed types
      // an array in a managed project is by default __gc[]
      // so __gc was not needed in the line below
      MyClass * MyArrayA __gc [] = {new MyClass()};

      // method #2 : make the array aware that is is pointing to unmanaged types
      // this method also works when you are trying to work with managed objects
      // in unmanaged onces
      gcroot <MyClass *> MyArrayB __nogc [] = {new MyClass()};

      // concluding using managed objects in unmanaged objects :
      // gcroot <MyClass *> MyObject = new MyClass();
      return 0;
}