Pass an object to another object constructor

[Deftwun]

Let me know if I'm outta line for posting an SFML question in a general C++ forum but I think this problem has more to do with my understanding of the language than the library.

So basically I'm trying to pass a reference of an object(sf::renderwindow) to a class(game_object) and then set that as a public referenced object within the class itself.

That way any of Game_objects members can use 'sf::RenderWindow' members without the reference being explicitly passed to the member itself (thats no problem just seems inefficient).

Heres a snippet of what I'm trying to do.

Class Header

class Game_Object { 
    public: 

        // constructor / destructor 
        Game_Object(sf::RenderWindow &Window); 
        virtual ~Game_Object(); 
  
        //{ SFML stuff 
        sf::RenderWindow Draw_target; 
        sf::Sprite Sprite 

};

.cpp Constructor

Game_Object::Game_Object(sf::RenderWindow &Window){ 
    Draw_target = &Window; 
}

Main

int main{ 
   sf::RenderWindow GameWindow; 
   Game::Object Ship(GameWindow); 
}

I've tried making 'draw_target' a pointer and using the '->' operator to access the 'draw' member of the render window. But the compiler didn't like that.

So how is this normally done if at all?

[firedraco]

When you attempt to assign a reference to a normal object, you perform a copy.

However, I'd have to say that if you want to make your Game::Objects like that, I'd probably just make them inherit from sf::Drawable (or whatever). Tbh, they shouldn't really have to know anything about GameWindow to work.

[Deftwun]

When you attempt to assign a reference to a normal object, you perform a copy.

Do you mean here...

Game_Object::Game_Object(sf::RenderWindow &Window){ 
    Draw_target = &Window; 
}

..when I use the reference to 'Window' in both the argument and the 'Draw_target' Declaration?
Or do you mean using a reference period performs a copy. If so than that was not my thinking.

However, I'd have to say that if you want to make your Game::Objects like that, I'd probably just make them inherit from sf::Drawable (or whatever).

Yeah Ive read about inheriting from sf::drawable but heard it was kinda bad practice.

Tbh, they shouldn't really have to know anything about GameWindow to work.

That had crossed my mind. Perhaps drawing should happen in a 'window' or 'game/engine' class with a loop for all 'game_objects'?