How to initialize nested struct in C++?

Question

Let's say I have following declaration in the C++:

struct Configuration {

 struct ParametersSetA {
    float param_A_01;
    float param_A_02;
        float param_A_03;
 } parameters_set_A;

 struct ParametersSetB {
    float param_B_01;
    float param_B_02;
 } parameters_set_B;

};

Then somewhere in the code I have following definition:

Configuration config = {
 
 .parameters_set_A = {
  .param_A_01 = 1.0f,
  .param_A_02 = 2.0f, 
  .param_A_03 = param_A_01 + param_A_02;
  },

 .parameters_set_B = {
  .param_B_01 = 0.50f,
  .param_B_02 = 0.75f
  }
};

My question is whether the initialization (especially as far as the param_A_03 item in the nested struct ParametersSetA) I have used above is correct in the C++?

It is not going to compile, so I guess the obvious answer is no. But it is easy to fix: param_A_01 -> config.parameters_set_A.param_A_01 and similar for the other. And the semicolon after that line doesn't belong there either. — user17732522
– user17732522, Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 11:36
The problem is that you can't use param_A_01 + param_A_02 when initializing param_A_03. — Richard
– Richard, Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 11:40
Designated initializes are available since C++20, so please add respective tag if this limitation is intentional. — Marek R
– Marek R, Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 11:53

Richard · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-17 12:25:43Z

3

The problem is that we can't use any of the unqualified names param_A_01 or param_A_02 or an expression that involves any of the two like param_A_01 + param_A_02 as initializer forparam_A_03.

Additionally, you have incorrectly put a semicolon ; after param_A_01 + param_A_02 instead of comma , . I've corrected both of these in the below shown modified program:

Method 1

//create constexpr variables 
constexpr float A1 = 1.0f;
constexpr float A2 = 2.0f;
Configuration config = {
 
 .parameters_set_A = {
  .param_A_01 = A1,
  .param_A_02 = A2, 
//--------------vv---vv---->use those constexpr variable(also semicolon is removed from here)
  .param_A_03 = A1 + A2
  },

 .parameters_set_B = {
  .param_B_01 = 0.50f,
  .param_B_02 = 0.75f
  }
};

Working demo

Method 2

Other option is to use qualified names like config.parameters_set_A.param_A_01 and config.parameters_set_A.param_A_02 as shown below:

Configuration config = {
 
 .parameters_set_A = {
  .param_A_01 = 1.0f,
  .param_A_02 = 2.0f, 
//--------------vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv--->qualified name used here
  .param_A_03 = config.parameters_set_A.param_A_01 + config.parameters_set_A.param_A_02 
  },

 .parameters_set_B = {
  .param_B_01 = 0.50f,
  .param_B_02 = 0.75f
  }
};

Working demo

edited Oct 17, 2022 at 12:25

answered Oct 17, 2022 at 11:42

Richard

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4 Comments

Steve Over a year ago

Thank you very much for your answer. My original intention was to calculate the initialization value for the param_A_03 based on the values of param_A_01 and param_A_02 at compile time. Do you know how to do that?

Richard Over a year ago

@Steve One option is to create constexpr variables for param_A_01 and param_A_02 called A1 and A2 respectively and then use those. See Demo. You're welcome.

Steve Over a year ago

I see, thanks. Let's say I would like to avoid the constexpr variables. Is it ok to use the variant mentioned above by the user17732522?

Richard Over a year ago

@Steve Yes, you can use the qualified names config.parameters_set_A.param_A_01 and config.parameters_set_A.param_A_02. I've added that as method 2 in my answer.

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