BUG: LNK2001 Error for Static Member in Class Template

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View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q151167

SYMPTOMS

Linker error LNK2001 is generated for static member variables of nested classes in class templates. The message states:

error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static int Outer<int>::Inner::sobj"(?sobj@Inner@?$Outer@H@@2HA)

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RESOLUTION

Do not use static member variables in nested classes of class templates.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

The sample code below gives the error message LNK2001.

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Sample Code

/* Compile options needed: none
*/ 

template<class T> class Outer
{
public:
    static T souter;

    class Inner
    {
    public:
        static T sobj;
    };
};

template <class T> double Outer<double>::souter = 1;

template <class T> int Outer<int>::Inner::sobj = 5;

void main()
{
    double dval = Outer<double>::souter;

    int i = Outer<int>::Inner::sobj;
}

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 2.1
Microsoft Visual C++ 2.2
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 Subscription
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Professional Edition

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kbbug kbcompiler kbcpponly KB151167

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Retired 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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