How can I declare a template pointer without knowing the type?

Question

This is what I would like to do:

ExampleTemplate* pointer_to_template;
cin >> number;
switch (number) {
case 1:
    pointer_to_template = new ExampleTempla         


        

Answer 1

What you're trying to do is not possible. This is becase your ExampleTemplate class doesn't exist by itself, only exists when you relate it with a type.

You could get that behaviour using inheritance:

1. Define a GeneralExampleTemplate (not a template class).
2. Make ExampleTemplate inherit from GeneralExampleTemplate.
3. That way you can create a GeneralExampleTemplate pointer and assign it with a (for example) ExampleTemplate.