Hello,

I have a problem with setting and getting values.

My code is as follows :-

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

class Meal
{
private:
string m_starter;

public:
virtual ~Meal() {}

const string& set_m_starter()
{
// here I want m_starter to be the value returned from get_m_starter()
}
void print()
{
cout << "Starter = " << m_starter << "\n";
}
};

class Vegan : public Meal
{
private:
string first;
public:
Vegan()
{
first = "Asparagus";
}
const string& get_m_starter() const { return first; }
};

class CourseFactory
{
public:
virtual Meal* createMeal() const = 0;
};

class VeganFactory : public CourseFactory
{
public:
Meal* createMeal() const { return new Vegan; }
};

int main( void )
{

CourseFactory* pFactory;

pFactory = new VeganFactory;
Meal* pMeal = pFactory->createMeal();

delete pFactory;

return 0;
}

I want to be able to capture the "Asparagus" in Vegan class and initiliase m_starter variable of Meal with it.

I know I can use protected and then I have no problem, but is there a nicer way leaving the AbstractFactory design pattern as it is ? I thought about RTTI, but I cannot get this to work.

Can someone please help ?