How to access a method without creating a class object

[maksins]

I have a class BearingX which inherits from a class named Domain. Domain has a private variable "time" and a public method getCurrentTime() which returns the private variable "time".
I need to access this method getCurrentTime() or variable "time" in my class BearingX without creating an object of class Domain. Is it possible, if yes, then how?
Thanks!

[Bench82]

If BearingX is derived from Domain, then a BearingX object "IS A" Domain object. (That's why inheritance is often said to represent an "IS A" relationship). You can treat getCurrentTime() as if it's a member of your BearingX class (because it is).


Note - if you've overridden getCurrentTime with your own implementation in BearingX, then to access the version from Domain, you would need to use Domain::getCurrentTime() when calling the function, otherwise you can omit the Domain:: bit

[maksins]

I am sorry for confusion, I confused inheritance with preprocessor directives. My bad!
Okay, so my BearingX doesn't inherit from class Domain. It includes the file like #include <domain.h>.
So now, is there a way to access getCurrentTime() now?

[vlad from moscow]

No. there is no such a trick, because getCurrentTime has implicit object parameter.
You could do what you want if getCurrentTine were a static method.

[nsboy78]

You need to create static public getCurrentTime() method in Domain class. time variable also must be static:

class Domain {
private:
...
static time;
...
public:
...
static getCurrentTime();
...
}

You should then access to this method from BearingX class by calling Domain::getCurentTime().

If you need, you can find on Google many articles about about c++ static functions.

[maksins]

Thank you guys for help.
I finally had to define a method which returned me current domain in the analysis and then got access to getCurrentTime() method:

time=(this->getDomain())->getCurrentTime();