Article ID: 116240 - Last Review: July 5, 2005 - Revision: 2.1

FIX: Compiler Errors Initializing const Reference to an Array

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SYMPTOMS

Initializing a "const" reference to an array with a "non-const" array causes incorrect compiler errors to be generated. Two such errors are C2607 and C2561.
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CAUSE

The C++ compiler does not properly handle initialization of a "const T&", where T is an array. For example, you should be able to initialize a variable of type "const float (&ref)[3][2]" with a variable of type "float [3][2]", but the compiler does not handle this case. Furthermore, interactions between const declarations and typedefs of arrays do not work in all circumstances.
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RESOLUTION

To work around the problem, either do not use the const specifier or add explicit casts to the appropriate const types.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was corrected in Microsoft Visual C++ .NET.
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MORE INFORMATION

The sample code below demonstrates the problem. Compiling it yields at least one of the following error messages:
error C2607: 'initializing' : cannot implicitly convert a 'int [3][2]' to a 'int __near &[3][2]' that is not const

error C2561: 'getMtx' : function must return a value
To work around the problem, use each commented line in the program to replace the line immediately above it.

Note: Simply removing the const specifier from the getMtx function's return type eliminates the problem.
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Sample Code

/* Compile options needed: none
*/ 
typedef int Matrix[3][2];

class Data
{
    Matrix Mtx;
    const Matrix& getMtx();
    // const int (&getMtx() const)[3][2];
};

inline const Matrix& Data::getMtx()
// inline const int (&Data::getMtx() const)[3][2]
{
    return Data::Mtx;
    // return (const int (&)[3][2])Data::Mtx[0][0];
}
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 1.5 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 Subscription
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Service Pack 5
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Keywords: 
kbbug kbcompiler kbcpponly kbfix kbnoupdate KB116240
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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