Question

So, I’m trying to make a text based game in C++ Using Visual Studio 2010. Here are some of the code blocks that I think are related. If you need anymore, don’t hesitate to ask me.

I’m trying to create a class for a game called places. I make a place, and it has another “place” to the North, South, East, and West of it. I’m just really confused right now. I’m a noob at this stuff. I may just be looking over something.

//places.h------------------------
#include "place.h"

//Nowhere place
string nowheredescr = "A strange hole to nowhere";
place nowhere(&nowheredescr, &nowhere, &nowhere, &nowhere, &nowhere); //Error occurs here
//

//place.h------------------------
#ifndef place_h
#define place_h

#include "classes.h"

class place
{
public:
    place(string *Sdescription, place *Snorth, place *Ssouth, place *Swest, place *Seast);
    ~place(void);
private:
    string *description;
    place *north;
    place *south;
    place *east;
    place *west;
};

#endif

//place.cpp-------------------
#include "place.h"
#include <iostream>


place::place(string *Sdescription, place *Snorth, place *Ssouth, place *Swest, place *Seast)
{
    description = Sdescription;
    north = Snorth;
    south = Ssouth;
    west = Swest;
    east = Seast;
}


place::~place(void)
{
}

Answer 1

Following syntax would solve the error

place nowhere = place(&nowheredescr, &nowhere, &nowhere, &nowhere, &nowhere);

That is explained in C++03 standard, 3.3.1/1

The point of declaration for a name is immediately after its complete
declarator (clause 8) and before its initializer (if any)

In OP example, place nowhere(.....) represents a declarator, therefore nowhere used as a constructor parameter is considered undeclared.
In my example, the place nowhere is a declarator and place(.....) is an initializer, therefore nowhere becomes declared at that point.