Like a variable, a function can be made a member of a class. This allows a class to perform its own assignments and/or better manage its behavior. These tasks cannot be handled by a regular member variable. When a function is a member of a class, that function is called a method.

To create a method, you start like a normal function but you include it in the body of the class. Here is an example:

public value class CCar
{
private:
    String ^ Make;
    String ^ Model;
    int      Doors;
    int      Year;
    double   Price;
	
public:
    void Build();
};

In the same way, you can add as many methods as you judge necessary for your class. Here is an example:

public value class CCar
{
private:
    String ^ Make;
    String ^ Model;
    int      Doors;
    int      Year;
    double   Price;
	
public:
    void Build();
    void Show();
};

1. To start a new project, on the main menu, click File -> New -> Project...
2. On the left side, make sure that Visual C++ is selected. In the Templates list, click CLR Empty Project
3. In the Name box, replace the string with ElectroStore1 and click OK
4. On the main menu, click Project -> Add New Item...
5. To create a header file, in the Templates list, click Header File (.h)
6. Set the Name to StoreItem and click Add
7. Complete the file as follows:
    

   #pragma once using namespace System; namespace ElectronicsStore { public ref class CStoreItem { private: long ItemNumber; __wchar_t ^ Category; String ^ Make; String ^ Model; double DiscountRate; double UnitPrice; }; }

8. To create a source file, in the Templates list, click C++ File (.cpp)
9. Set the Name to Exercise and click Add
10. Complete the file as follows:
       

    #include "StoreItem.h" using namespace System; using namespace ElectronicsStore; int main() { String ^ strTitle = L"=-= Nearson Electonics =-=\n" L"******* Store Items ******"; CStoreItem ^ item = gcnew CStoreItem; Console::WriteLine(strTitle); Console::WriteLine(); return 0; }

11. Execute the application to test it. This would produce:
     

    =-= Nearson Electonics =-= ******* Store Items ****** Press any key to continue . . .

12. Close the DOS window

There are at least two techniques you can use to implement a method. To implement a method in the class where the method is declared, use the same techniques we used to define regular functions. When a method is a class' member, it has access to the member variables of the same class; this means that you don't need to pass the variables as arguments; you can just use any of them as if it were supplied. Here is an example:

public value class CCar
{
private:
    String ^ Make;
    String ^ Model;
    int      Doors;
    int      Year;
    double   Price;
	
public:
    void Build()
    {
        Console::Write(L"Enter Make:  ");
        Make = Console::ReadLine();
        Console::Write(L"Enter Model: ");
        Model = Console::ReadLine();
        Console::Write(L"# of Doors:  ");
        Doors = int::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
        Console::Write(L"Year Made:   ");
        Year = int::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
        Console::Write(L"Enter Price: ");
        Price = double::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
    }

    void Show();
};

To call a method from a declared handle of a class, you can use the -> operator just as you would proceed to access a member of a class. Here is an example:

using namespace System;

public value class CCar
{
private:
    String ^ Make;
    String ^ Model;
    int      Doors;
    int      Year;
    double   Price;
	
public:
    void Build()
    {
        Console::WriteLine(L"Enter Car Information");
        Console::Write(L"Enter Make:  ");
        Make = Console::ReadLine();
        Console::Write(L"Enter Model: ");
        Model = Console::ReadLine();
        Console::Write(L"# of Doors:  ");
        Doors = int::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
        Console::Write(L"Year Made:   ");
        Year = int::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
        Console::Write(L"Enter Price: ");
        Price = double::Parse(Console::ReadLine());
    }
};

int main()
{
    CCar ^ vehicle = gcnew CCar;
	
    vehicle->Build();

    Console::WriteLine();
    return 0;
}

Practical Learning: Implementing a Method Locally

Method Global Definition

Practical Learning: Implementing Methods Globally

Inline Methods