A Polymorphic Pointer

[feelinGood]

Hello. I have posted here once before, but for those who may not know, my name is Adam and I am a Programming student. I am having issues with understanding why my code isn't working the way I need it to. I have read my text and read through the tutorial on this site, but still feel like I am missing something. I am not looking for the answer, but some help in the right direction.

I need to write a simple program with a class of both person and student, as well as a polymorphic pointer labeled pIndividual. I understand class and inheritance, but I am having trouble with using a pointer in this manner.

Here is my code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

class Person
{
public:
       string m_Name, m_Address, m_City, m_State;
       int m_Zip, m_Phone_Number;
       
       void virtual list_stats();
};

void Person::list_stats()
{
     cout << "This is the function show_stats() that is in class Person to show person1's " << endl;
     cout << "information:" << endl << endl;
     cout << "Name: " << m_Name << endl << "Address: " << m_Address << endl << "City: " << m_City << endl; 
     cout << "State: " << m_State << endl << "Zip: " << m_Zip << endl << "Phone Number: " << m_Phone_Number << endl << endl;
}

class Student : public Person
{
public:
       char m_Grade;
       string m_Course;
       float m_GPA;
       void virtual list_stats();
       
       Student(float GPA = 4.0);
};

Student::Student(float GPA)
{
     m_GPA = GPA;
}

void Student::list_stats()
{
     cout << "This is the function show_stats() that is in class Student to show student1's " << endl;
     cout << "information by using pointer pIndividual:" << endl << endl;
     cout << "Name: " << m_Name << endl << "Address: " << m_Address << endl << "City: " << m_City << endl; 
     cout << "State: " << m_State << endl << "Zip: " << m_Zip << endl << "Phone Number: " << m_Phone_Number << endl << endl;
}

int main()
{
    Person person1;
    person1.m_Name = "Joe";
    person1.m_Address = "ABC Blvd.";
    person1.m_City = "Sunny Town";
    person1.m_State = "XX";
    person1.m_Zip = 34555;
    person1.m_Phone_Number = 1234567;
    
    person1.list_stats();
    
    Student student1(4.0);
    student1.m_Name = "Mac";
    student1.m_Address = "123 Four Drive.";
    student1.m_City = "Holiday";
    student1.m_State = "XX";
    student1.m_Zip = 12345;
    student1.m_Phone_Number = 7654321;
    student1.m_Grade = 'A';
    student1.m_Course = "Programming II";
    
    Person* pIndividual = new Student;
    pIndividual->list_stats();
    
    system("PAUSE");
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Everything compiles, but the output for student1 either doesn't show up or it is wrong. *sigh*

Thanks in advance for any guidance and/or insight.

[Albatross]

Of course the output for student1 isn't showing up. You never ask it to show up (see lines 68-74). pIndividual is also not going to list anything, as it's empty. ;).

-Albatross

[Athar]

Yeah well, you're listing pIndividual's stats and not those of student1, so you shouldn't be surprised.
Instead of creating a new student, you probably should just assign &student1 to the pointer.

[filipe]

The Student object that pIndividual points to was never initialized. pIndividual is not pointing to student1 because you never told it to.

[feelinGood]

Albatross, Athar and filipe, thank you for your help. My code works now. I understand why the pointer wasn't pointing to what I wanted it to and why my syntax was wrong.