Question

g++ -std=gnu++0x main.cpp
In file included from main.cpp:6:0:
CustArray.h: In constructor 'CustArray::CustArray()':
CustArray.h:26:32: error: 'class Info' has no member named 'someInfo'
make: *** [all] Error 1

/*
 * Info.h
 *
 */

#ifndef INFO_H_
#define INFO_H_

class Info
{
    friend class CustArray;
};

#endif /* INFO_H_ */


/*
 * SubInfo.h
 *
 */

#include "Info.h"

class SubInfo : public Info
{

const int someInfo;

public:
    SubInfo(const int someInfo):someInfo(someInfo){}
};

#include <vector>
#include <memory>
#include "Info.h"
#include "SubInfo.h"

template<typename T>
struct ptrModel
{
    typedef std::unique_ptr<T> Type;
};

//Alias shortener.
typedef ptrModel<Info>::Type ptrType;

class CustArray
{

protected:
    std::vector<ptrType> array;

public:
    CustArray()
    {
        ptrType el_init(new SubInfo(1));
        array.push_back(std::move(el_init));
        int someInfo = (*(array[0])).someInfo;
    }

};

/*
 * main.cpp
 *
 */

#include "CustArray.h"
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    CustArray seq;

    return 0;
}

Answer 1

An std::vector< std::unique_ptr<Base> > is just that: a vector filled with pointers to bases. And you cannot access derived class’ content through base class pointers/references – even if objects of derived classes are behind those pointers/references.

This is no different from this:

SubInfo si(1); 
Info& info = si;
info.someInfo; // won't compile

That doesn’t mean that behind info there isn’t a derived class’ object. There is. But you cannot access anything of it but what’s available through the base class interface. That’s basic OO.