Help - converting void* to string&

[yafit123]

Hi,

I have 3 functions that receive different types of parameters, but at some point preform the same actions..
seek(int key)
seek(char* key)
seek(string& key)

I call the functions on seek(void* key, int type)

	void seek(void* key, int type)
	{
		if (type==0)   // if key type is int
			seek(*(int*)key);
		if (type==1)   // if key type is char*
			seek((char*)(key));
		if (type==2)   // if key type is string&
			seek((string&)key);
	}

now, on function seek(string& key) it writes me "Bad ptr" regarding key -
why? How do I convert void* to string& ?

Thanks in advance...

[webJose]

Disregarding the fact that there are better ways to do this, the answer to your question would be the following (untested), assuming key is of type std::string*:

seek(*(std::string*)(key));

[yafit123]

Thanks a lot!

btw, what better ways for examples?

[webJose]

You could use a templated function/class, and depending on what you are trying to do, it is not inconceivable that you could use polymorphism. The use of void* is from the days of C. C++ has greatly reduced the need of using void* and has made the code more readable.