Question

class token
{
private:
    char m_chIcon;                //actual ascii char that shows up for this token
    location m_cPlayerLocation;   // every token has a location
    token() {}

public:
        token(char icon) :  m_chIcon(icon) {}

};

class board
{
private:
token m_cPlayer('@');
};

I have tried with and without initialization lists. From what I have looked into so far, it seems the compiler thinks I am trying to declare a function with the return type token. I also tried using a name other than token to see is that was a conflict.

also I am getting the error on this line:

    token m_cPlayer('@');
Error: expected type specifier

and then any other reference further down the line of m_cPlayer

Error: expression must have class type

I have removed other surrounding code from what I posted that I don’t believe is causing errors.

Answer 1

Member variables in C++03 can only be initialized inside a function (e.g. from a constructor):

class board {
  private:
    token m_cPlayer;
  public:
    board() : m_cPlayer('@') {}
};