kenw@noah.arc.CDN (Ken Wallewein) (04/26/87)
Maybe this isn't the correct forum, but I don't know of a better one, so... I have been watching with great interest any news on C++. Haven't seen any articles, yet, which surprises me. However, I recently read a copy of the OASYS' Designer C++ Technical Specifications. It allows function and operator overloading, and I have one key question: Does allowable operator overloading include the assignment (=) operator? A long time ago I became frustrated with the inability to perform such things as file I/O by assignment, e.g. file2.record1 = file1.record3. I can say a = input(file1,record1) but I can't say output(file1,record1) = a. I think external storage should be treated as much as possible the save way as internal storage. Ever heard of virtual arrays (the RSTS Basic+ kind, not the RSX FORTRAN77 kind)? Vax global sections are a clumsy approach to this concept. I'm not sure - maybe I still need something I have in the past referred to as read/write functions... The only language I can think of at the moment that supports this is Icon by Ralph Griswold of Snobol4 fame. Anyway, I'm now pinning my hopes on C++ assignment operator overloading. /kenw