Initialize enum variable in header

Question

I'm creating a new enum:

enum WState {SLEEPING=2, WAITING_FOR_DATA=3, SENDING=4, IDLE=5, ERROR=6};

Then I'm trying to initialize a variable of that enum type to a default state straight after.

WState CurrentState = WState::ERROR;

I can't figure out the correct syntax or maybe I'm missing some vital keywords when searching for an answer. It says:

data member initializer not allowed

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your answer is C++ rule: "data member initializer not allowed" — Grijesh Chauhan
– Grijesh Chauhan, Commented Mar 30, 2013 at 11:44
Data member initializer is a C++11 feature. Have you enabled support for that? — Bo Persson
– Bo Persson, Commented Mar 30, 2013 at 11:44
Oh I misread. So there's an instance variable which you're trying to initialize, I see. — user529758
– user529758, Commented Mar 30, 2013 at 11:45
Also, enums don't define their own namespaces : you want Wireless::ERROR instead of WState::ERROR. WState::ERROR in this case will be allowed only because of a Microsoft-specific compiler extension. — Daniel Kamil Kozar
– Daniel Kamil Kozar, Commented Mar 30, 2013 at 11:51

Andy Prowl · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-30 11:54:38Z

1

In C++11, what you are doing is allowed. In C++03, however, you have to perform the initialization in the class constructor (possibly in an initialization list, as shown below):

class Wireless
{
public:
    enum WState { /* ... */, ERROR = 6 };
    WState CurrentState;
    Wireless() : CurrentState(WState::ERROR)
    { /* ... */ }

    // ...
};

answered Mar 30, 2013 at 11:54

Andy Prowl

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