Rob Stewart wrote:

...

To simplify my design, I could implement basic_string_impl using the

From: "Reece Dunn" <msclrhd@hotmail.com> policy

...

approach that flex_string uses.

Sorry, I don't know anything about flex_string, but what you've shown would only serve to make your string class more painful than John's (or your) current approach.

I have come up with the following design that should satisfy all requirements: [1] it retains the basic_string interface in fixed_string_base (and thus [w]char_string) and fixed_string< n > [2] it retains the existing usage [3] it allows the use of char_string for operating on fixed_string< n, char

for any n without resorting to templates

[4] it hides the implementation functions from the main interface and should now allow aggressive inlining of the code namespace detail { template< typename CharT, class Policy = std::char_traits< CharT > > struct fixed_string_iface{ /* ... */ }; template< class Base > class basic_string_impl: private Base { public: typedef typename Base::char_type char_type; typedef typename Base::traits_type traits_type; // ... }; } template< typename CharT, class Policy = std::char_traits< CharT > > struct fixed_string_base: public detail::basic_string_impl< detail::fixed_string_iface< CharT, Policy > > { // ... }; typedef fixed_string_base< char > char_string; typedef fixed_string_base< wchar_t > wchar_string; template< size_t n, typename CharT = char, class Policy = std::char_traits< CharT > > class flex_string: public fixed_string_base< CharT, Policy > { // ... }; However, the implementation has another an additional class, making it slightly more confusing to see what is happening; it does simplify basic_string_impl, though! NOTE: I have not fleshed out the above design, so don't know if it is truely implementable (it seems so). I shall update the sandbox code to reflect the above design when it is implemented. Regards, Reece _________________________________________________________________ Want to block unwanted pop-ups? Download the free MSN Toolbar now! http://toolbar.msn.co.uk/