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binary '<': no operator found

masterinex (181)

when i run this code, i get this error:


Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
Error C2678 binary '<': no operator found which takes a left-hand operand of type 'const studentinfo' (or there is no acceptable conversion) studentrecord c:\program files (x86)\microsoft visual studio\2017\enterprise\vc\tools\msvc\14.10.25017\include\xstddef 234



i am not sure why. i am not even using the "<" operator. 



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# include <iostream>
# include <algorithm>
# include <vector>
# include <list>
# include <string>
# include <set>


using namespace std;

struct studentinfo {
	string name;
	int grade;
};


class markinfo {

public:

	vector<studentinfo> pass;
	vector <studentinfo> fail;

};


markinfo passfail( const vector<studentinfo>  & s)
{
	markinfo m;

	for(auto x:s)

	if (x.grade >= 50)
	{
		m.pass.push_back(x); 
	}
	else
	{
		m.fail.push_back(x);
	}

	return m; 

}


ostream& operator <<(ostream& os, studentinfo & c)
{
	os << c.name << " " << c.grade ;
	return os;

}



//
//template<typename T>
//void print(T& c)
//{
//	cout << "\nHere is the List: \n";
//	for (auto& x : c)			//& pass by ref is required if process modifies the element
//		cout << x << "  ";
//	cout << "\n" << endl;
//}




bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{
	return lhs.name < rhs.name; 
}


int main()
{

	vector <studentinfo> s;

	studentinfo sinfo;
	sinfo.name = "gg";
	sinfo.grade = 44;

	studentinfo sinfo2;
	sinfo2.name = "aa";
	sinfo2.grade = 77;

	s.push_back(sinfo);
	s.push_back(sinfo2);

	sort(s.begin(), s.end(), name); 

	markinfo m;

	m = passfail(s);
	cout << " test " << endl; 


	list <studentinfo> l;

	std::list<studentinfo> lst{ s.begin(), s.end() };

	set<studentinfo> ss(s.begin(), s.end()); 

	//print(lst); 

	//print(ss); 


	for (auto& x : s)			//& pass by ref is required if process modifies the element
		cout << x << endl;


	
	//l.insert((s.begin(), s.end()));


	//ist <studentinfo> ll = ;

	/*
	for (auto x : m.pass)
	{
		cout << x.name << x.grade << endl;
	}*/

	
	for (auto x : s)
	{
		cout << x.name << x.grade << endl;
	}
	
	system("pause");
	

}
arbwok (63)
I think 
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bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{
	return lhs.name < rhs.name; 
}

might be your problem. You should have an overload less than operator.
Last edited on
masterinex (181)
how should i overload it ?
Duthomhas (13213)
You are using std::sort() correctly, and even made a sort function (which you named 'name' ???).

The problem is that a std::set() wants to sort its elements, but has no idea how to sort studentinfos. This is where the < operator comes in: you want to provide a version that knows how to work on studentinfo arguments.

Your 'name' function is exactly that, just with the unfortunate name. Rewrite it thus:

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bool operator < (const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{
	return lhs.name < rhs.name;
}

You will also want to change the sorting in main():

 
 
sort(s.begin(), s.end());


You can also get rid of those live-for-too-long temporaries to build your list:

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int main()
{
	s.emplace_back( studentinfo { "gg", 44 } );
	s.emplace_back( studentinfo { "aa", 77 } );

	sort(begin(s), end(s));

Hope this helps.
Enoizat (1343)
Other hints:
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# include <algorithm>
# include <iostream>
# include <string>
# include <vector>

struct studentinfo {
    std::string name;
    int grade;
    bool operator<(const studentinfo& other);
};

bool studentinfo::operator<(const studentinfo& other)
{ return name < other.name; }

class markinfo {
public:
    std::vector<studentinfo> pass;
    std::vector<studentinfo> fail;
};

markinfo passfail(const std::vector<studentinfo>& s)
{
    markinfo m;
    for(auto x : s) {
        if (x.grade >= 50) { m.pass.push_back(x); }
        else               { m.fail.push_back(x); }
    }
    return m;
}

std::ostream& operator <<(std::ostream& os, const studentinfo& c)
{ return os << c.name << ' ' << c.grade; }

void waitForEnter()
{
    std::cout << "\nPress ENTER to continue...\n";
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}

int main()
{
    std::vector<studentinfo> sinfos { { "John Smith", 44 }, 
                                      { "Ann Allen", 77 } };

    std::sort(sinfos.begin(), sinfos.end());

    markinfo m = passfail(sinfos);
    std::cout << "Test:\n";
    for(const auto& x : m.pass) { std::cout << x << '\n'; }
    for(const auto& x : m.fail) { std::cout << x << '\n'; }
    waitForEnter();
    return 0;
}

masterinex (181)
i thought i could define a predicate function such as:

bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{
return lhs.name < rhs.name;
}


and then just call it :


sort(s.begin(), s.end(), name);
Enoizat (1343)
i thought i could define a predicate function such as:
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bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{    return lhs.name < rhs.name;   }

and then just call it :
sort(s.begin(), s.end(), name);

Pretty near. You can’t use a ‘normal’ function, but a ‘function object’, i.e.: a ‘thing’ that behaves like a function:
http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/algorithm/sort
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template< class RandomIt, class Compare >
void sort( RandomIt first, RandomIt last, Compare comp );

...
comp - comparison function object


A function object can be for example a functor (a class a member of which overloads operator() ), a lambda (which is converted into a functor by the compiler), all these strange ‘beasts’ here:
http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/utility/functional

So, following the examples provided by cppreference.com, you can:
1) wrap your ‘normal’ function into a function object by means of std::function:
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# include <algorithm>
# include <functional>
# include <iostream>
# include <string>
# include <vector>

struct studentinfo {
    std::string name;
    int grade;
};

bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs);
void waitForEnter();

int main()
{
    std::vector<studentinfo> sinfos { { "John Smith", 44 }, 
                                      { "Ann Allen", 77 } };

    std::function<bool(const studentinfo&, const studentinfo&)> myname = name;
    std::sort(sinfos.begin(), sinfos.end(), myname);

    for(const auto& e : sinfos) { 
        std::cout << "Name: " << e.name << " --> " << e.grade << '\n';
    }
    waitForEnter();
    return 0;
}

bool name(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{ return lhs.name < rhs.name; }

void waitForEnter()
{
    std::cout << "\nPress ENTER to continue...\n";
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}


2) write your own functor:
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# include <algorithm>
# include <iostream>
# include <string>
# include <vector>

struct studentinfo {
    std::string name;
    int grade;
};

struct {    // unnamed struct
    // Overloading operator() to build a functor
    bool operator()(const studentinfo& lhs, const studentinfo& rhs) const
    {
        return lhs.name < rhs.name; 
    }
} mycomp;   // beware: this is an instance of the unnamed struct

void waitForEnter();

int main()
{
    std::vector<studentinfo> sinfos { { "John Smith", 44 }, 
                                      { "Ann Allen", 77 } };

    std::sort(sinfos.begin(), sinfos.end(), mycomp);

    for(const auto& e : sinfos) { 
        std::cout << "Name: " << e.name << " --> " << e.grade << '\n';
    }
    waitForEnter();
    return 0;
}

void waitForEnter()
{
    std::cout << "\nPress ENTER to continue...\n";
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}


3) use a lambda:
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# include <algorithm>
# include <iostream>
# include <string>
# include <vector>

struct studentinfo {
    std::string name;
    int grade;
};

void waitForEnter();

int main()
{
    std::vector<studentinfo> sinfos { { "John Smith", 44 }, 
                                      { "Ann Allen", 77 } };

    std::sort(sinfos.begin(), sinfos.end(), 
              [](const studentinfo& left, const studentinfo& right) {
                  return left.name < right.name;
              } );

    for(const auto& e : sinfos) { 
        std::cout << "Name: " << e.name << " --> " << e.grade << '\n';
    }
    waitForEnter();
    return 0;
}

void waitForEnter()
{
    std::cout << "\nPress ENTER to continue...\n";
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}


Errors and Omissions Excepted :-)

JLBorges (13770)
> i thought i could define a predicate function such as: ...

>> You can’t use a ‘normal’ function

We can use a 'normal' function, as long as it meets the requirements specified by the Compare concept
http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/concept/Compare

A pointer to the 'normal' function can also be used as the compare object for std::set.

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#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>
#include <set>

struct sinfo {

    std::string name;
    int grade;
};

bool cmp_names( const sinfo& lhs, const sinfo& rhs ) { return lhs.name < rhs.name ; }

int main()
{
    std::vector<sinfo> vec { { "gg", 44 }, { "aa", 77 }, { "dd", 52 }, { "cc", 02 } };

    std::sort( vec.begin(), vec.end(), cmp_names );

    for( const auto& si : vec )
        std::cout << "Name: " << si.name << "  grade: " << si.grade << '\n' ;

    std::cout << '\n' ;

    std::set< sinfo, decltype(&cmp_names) > set( vec.begin(), vec.end(), &cmp_names ) ;

    for( const auto& si : set )
        std::cout << "Name: " << si.name << "  grade: " << si.grade << '\n' ;
}

http://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/a/ee3cb0ce8585f710
Enoizat (1343)
JLBorges wrote:
We can use a 'normal' function, as long as it meets the requirements specified by the Compare concept

Definitely, JLBorges! Thanks a lot for your correction. I’ve been set on the wrong track by the error the OP reported (“Error C2678 binary '<': no operator found which takes a left-hand operand of type 'const studentinfo'”), which was likely due by the (wrong) sort() on std::set, not the one on std::vector, which was fine.
I gave a hasty answer: my bad.
masterinex (181)
what is the difference btw these 2:

bool cmp_names(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
{
return lhs.name < rhs.name;
}

and:

bool cmp_names( const sinfo& lhs, const sinfo& rhs ) { return lhs.name < rhs.name ; }

masterinex (181)
i have changed my code , but i am still getting this error:


# include <iostream>
# include <algorithm>
# include <vector>
# include <list>
# include <string>
# include <set>


using namespace std;

struct studentinfo {
string name;
int grade;
};


class markinfo {

public:

vector<studentinfo> pass;
vector <studentinfo> fail;

};


markinfo passfail( const vector<studentinfo> & s)
{
markinfo m;

for(auto x:s)

if (x.grade >= 50)
{
m.pass.push_back(x);
}
else
{
m.fail.push_back(x);
}

return m;

}


ostream& operator <<(ostream& os, studentinfo & c)
{
os << c.name << " " << c.grade ;
return os;

}



//
//template<typename T>
//void print(T& c)
//{
// cout << "\nHere is the List: \n";
// for (auto& x : c) //& pass by ref is required if process modifies the element
// cout << x << " ";
// cout << "\n" << endl;
//}


//
//
//bool cmp_names(const studentinfo & lhs, const studentinfo & rhs)
//{
// return lhs.name < rhs.name;
//}


bool cmp_names(const studentinfo& lhs, const studentinfo& rhs) { return lhs.name < rhs.name; }



int main()
{

vector <studentinfo> s;

studentinfo sinfo;
sinfo.name = "gg";
sinfo.grade = 44;

studentinfo sinfo2;
sinfo2.name = "aa";
sinfo2.grade = 77;

s.push_back(sinfo);
s.push_back(sinfo2);

sort(s.begin(), s.end(), cmp_names);

markinfo m;

m = passfail(s);
cout << " test " << endl;


list <studentinfo> l;

std::list<studentinfo> lst{ s.begin(), s.end() };

set<studentinfo> ss(s.begin(), s.end());

//print(lst);

//print(ss);


for (auto& x : s) //& pass by ref is required if process modifies the element
cout << x << endl;



//l.insert((s.begin(), s.end()));


//ist <studentinfo> ll = ;

/*
for (auto x : m.pass)
{
cout << x.name << x.grade << endl;
}*/


for (auto x : s)
{
cout << x.name << x.grade << endl;
}

system("pause");


}
JLBorges (13770)
> i have changed my code , but i am still getting this error:

Repeat:
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// set<studentinfo> ss(s.begin(), s.end()); 
std::set< studentinfo, decltype(&cmp_names) > ss( s.begin(), s.end(), &cmp_names );

Enoizat (1343)
This version compiles:
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# include <algorithm>
# include <iostream>
# include <limits>
# include <list>
# include <set>
# include <string>
# include <vector>

using namespace std;

struct studentinfo {
    string name;
    int grade;
    bool operator<(const studentinfo& other) const { return name < other.name; }
};


class markinfo {
public:
    vector<studentinfo> pass;
    vector <studentinfo> fail;
};


markinfo passfail( const vector<studentinfo> & s)
{
    markinfo m;

    for(auto x:s)
        if (x.grade >= 50)
        {
            m.pass.push_back(x);
        }
        else
        {
            m.fail.push_back(x);
        }
    return m;
}

ostream& operator <<(ostream& os, studentinfo & c)
{
    os << c.name << " " << c.grade ;
    return os;
}

bool cmp_names(const studentinfo& lhs, const studentinfo& rhs) { return lhs.name < rhs.name; }

void waitForEnter()
{
    std::cout << "\nPress ENTER to continue...\n";
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}

int main()
{

    vector <studentinfo> s;

    studentinfo sinfo;
    sinfo.name = "gg";
    sinfo.grade = 44;

    studentinfo sinfo2;
    sinfo2.name = "aa";
    sinfo2.grade = 77;

    s.push_back(sinfo);
    s.push_back(sinfo2);

    sort(s.begin(), s.end(), cmp_names);

    markinfo m;

    m = passfail(s);
    cout << " test " << endl;

    list <studentinfo> l;
    std::list<studentinfo> lst{ s.begin(), s.end() };
    set<studentinfo> ss(s.begin(), s.end());

    for (auto& x : s)
    cout << x << endl;

    for (auto x : s)
    {
        cout << x.name << x.grade << endl;
    }
    waitForEnter();
}

Last edited on
masterinex (181)
how is it different from the one i have posted before ?
Enoizat (1343)
how is it different from the one i have posted before ?

My code mainly differ from yours in this line:
bool operator<(const studentinfo& other) const { return name < other.name; }

JLBorges offered you a different solution, which doesn’t involve any modification of your structs.
masterinex (181)
why is it necessary to have this line inside the struct:

bool operator<(const studentinfo& other) const { return name < other.name; }

i thought that the predicate function on line 47 takes care of everything:


bool cmp_names(const studentinfo& lhs, const studentinfo& rhs) { return lhs.name < rhs.name; }
Enoizat (1343)
why is it necessary to have this line inside the struct:
bool operator<(const studentinfo& other) const { return name < other.name; }
i thought that the predicate function on line 47 takes care of everything:
bool cmp_names(const studentinfo& lhs, const studentinfo& rhs) { return lhs.name < rhs.name; }

Your post would be so much easier to read if you had used the “code” tags...

cmp_names() can take care of everything if you pass it to the std::set constructor, as JLBorges showed you:
JLBorges wrote:
std::set< studentinfo, decltype(&cmp_names) > ss( s.begin(), s.end(), &cmp_names );

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