__if_exists Statement

 

The latest version of this topic can be found at __if_exists Statement.

The __if_exists statement tests whether the specified identifier exists. If the identifier exists, the specified statement block is executed.

Syntax

__if_exists ( identifier ) {   
statements  
};  

Parameters

Parameter	Description
identifier	The identifier whose existence you want to test.
statements	One or more statements to execute if identifier exists.

Remarks

Warning

To achieve the most reliable results, use the __if_exists statement under the following constraints.

• Apply the __if_exists statement to only simple types, not templates.

• Apply the __if_exists statement to identifiers both inside or outside a class. Do not apply the __if_exists statement to local variables.

• Use the __if_exists statement only in the body of a function. Outside of the body of a function, the __if_exists statement can test only fully defined types.

• When you test for overloaded functions, you cannot test for a specific form of the overload.

The complement to the __if_exists statement is the __if_not_exists statement.

Example

Notice that this example uses templates, which is not advised.

// the__if_exists_statement.cpp  
// compile with: /EHsc  
#include <iostream>  
  
template<typename T>  
class X : public T {  
public:  
   void Dump() {  
      std::cout << "In X<T>::Dump()" << std::endl;  
  
      __if_exists(T::Dump) {  
         T::Dump();  
      }  
  
      __if_not_exists(T::Dump) {  
         std::cout << "T::Dump does not exist" << std::endl;  
      }  
   }     
};  
  
class A {  
public:  
   void Dump() {  
      std::cout << "In A::Dump()" << std::endl;  
   }  
};  
  
class B {};  
  
bool g_bFlag = true;  
  
class C {  
public:  
   void f(int);  
   void f(double);  
};  
  
int main() {   
   X<A> x1;  
   X<B> x2;  
  
   x1.Dump();  
   x2.Dump();  
  
   __if_exists(::g_bFlag) {  
      std::cout << "g_bFlag = " << g_bFlag << std::endl;  
   }  
  
   __if_exists(C::f) {  
      std::cout << "C::f exists" << std::endl;  
   }  
  
   return 0;  
}  

Output

In X<T>::Dump
()  
In A::Dump
()  
In X<T>::Dump
()  
T::Dump does not exist  
g_bFlag = 1  
C::f exists  

See Also

Selection Statements
Keywords
__if_not_exists Statement