VC.NET 2005 and ^

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a RC version of VC.NET 2005 for testing purpose and i would like to
understand the purpose of ^ character.

Now instead to write :

String strTest="";

we need to write :
String^ strTest= "";

why and what are the implications of this changes ?
i did not find any information in help about it except few words and without
any real detail.

Precision : i'm working under Windows.Forms.

thanks a lot,
Maileen

 

[Arnaud Debaene]

Hi,

I have a RC version of VC.NET 2005 for testing purpose and i would
like to understand the purpose of ^ character.

Now instead to write :

String strTest="";

You mean instead of String* strTest="" (old C++ Managed syntax).

we need to write :
String^ strTest= "";

why and what are the implications of this changes ?

The purpose is to make clearer the difference between pointers (pointing to
native objects) and handles (referencing managed objects). The latter ones
were called "__gc pointers" in managed C++.

i did not find any information in help about it except few words and
without any real detail.

You didn't search strong enough ;-)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yk97tc08 (&mong many other articles
on the subject).

Arnaud
MVP - VC

 

[Nishant Sivakumar]

http://www.voidnish.com/articles/ShowArticle.aspx?code=cppcliintro01

 

[Tom Serface]

I think this is one of the best extensions they did and it looks like C++ in
a way. It is also very clear to see the difference between * and ^
pointers.

Tom

 

[Peter Oliphant]

OK, now I'm worried. If I upgrade to 2005 from 2003 does this mean all my
managed pointers (*) must now be changed to handles (^), that all my managed
new's must be changed to gcnew, etc.? Or is it backwards compatible and
these are new addtional features?

[==P==]

http://www.voidnish.com/articles/ShowArticle.aspx?code=cppcliintro01

--
Regards,
Nish [VC++ MVP]

Hi,

I have a RC version of VC.NET 2005 for testing purpose and i would like
to
understand the purpose of ^ character.

Now instead to write :

String strTest="";

we need to write :
String^ strTest= "";

why and what are the implications of this changes ?
i did not find any information in help about it except few words and
without
any real detail.

Precision : i'm working under Windows.Forms.

thanks a lot,
Maileen

 

[Jochen Kalmbach [MVP]]

Hi Peter!

OK, now I'm worried. If I upgrade to 2005 from 2003 does this mean all my
managed pointers (*) must now be changed to handles (^), that all my managed
new's must be changed to gcnew, etc.? Or is it backwards compatible and
these are new addtional features?

You can use the "/clrldsyntax" switch to be (mostly) compatible with
VC2003.

--
Greetings
Jochen

My blog about Win32 and .NET
http://blog.kalmbachnet.de/