Printing from derived classes

Question

class Shape{
private:
char *name;
};
class Circle:public Shape{
private: int radius;
};
class Rectangle:public Shape{
private:
int side1,side2;
};

int main()
{
Shape **s;
s=new Shape *[2];
s[0]=new Circle(2);
s[1]=new Rectangle(2,3);
cout<<*s[0];
cout<<*s[1];

}
How to print information for the Circle and Rectangle objects?
I tried with dynamic_cast in the Shape class but the program wont execute because the derived classes aren't declared yet, and i tried overloading the << operator in the derived classes but the program will only use the overloaded << operator from the Shape class.
Any suggestions, please?

Answer 1

If I got the problem right, you could do something like this, i.e. shift the actual printing to a virtually overriden method that is then called from the overloaded insertion operator:

https://code.sololearn.com/c5TIXWw2Gwk6/?ref=app

Answer 2

I'm confused by the Shape **s line, why use double pointer when you are making a list?

Please save the full version of the code (with the << operator overload etc.) in SoloLearn, and share the link to the saved code instead, for a clearer view on the problem.

https://www.sololearn.com/post/75089/?ref=app

Answer 3

It's not a double pointer. It's a dynamic array of pointers.

Answer 4

Thanks, it worked. :)