virtual base class destructor calls a virtual method overridden in the derived class

[109]

OK, smartypants: what happens when a virtual base class destructor calls a virtual method overridden in the derived class?

Heh-heh, I know that. And I am not even C++ programmer! Am I good or am I good?

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

What if the virtual function is actually a pure virtual function and we try to call it from the destructor? I have tried it and it won't link.

A::~A()
{
pure_virtual_func(); // Don't link
}

But if you declare another function in class A and you call the pure virtual function in it, this will compile and link correctly.

void A::DoIt()
{
pure_virtual_func();
}

Finally, if I call A::DoIt() from the destructor of class A this will link.

A::~A()
{
DoIt(); // Link correctly
}

But if you try to run this, you'll have a run-time exception error.

Is there a good explanation that if I call directly the pure virtual function from the destructor it won't link and if I call it indirectly from another function everything is fine?

I'm using Visual 6.0.

Thanks
Jonathan