Reference to one of many objects

[PhysicsSteve]

I have several different objects, each with a common base class. Id like to create a base-class reference to the i-th object. Is there a better way than:

Base& base = (i == 0) ? Obj0 :
             (i == 1) ? Obj1 :
             (i == 2) ? Obj2 :
...
             (i == 7) ? Obj7;

[KANATA1]

try if statements or for loop or both

[PhysicsSteve]

Neither seem to work:

Base& base;
if (i == 1) base = Obj1;

if (i == 1) Base& base = Obj1;

The first statement is invalid. Moving it into the if means the reference is out of scope. Same with for loops.

[dutch]

Don't use numbered variables. Use an array instead.

Object Obj[8];
// ...
Base& base = Obj[i];

You can't use ifs since references must be initialized when defined and afterwards can't be changed.

[doug4]

What dutch said.

If you absolutely cannot use an array (and if you cannot, I suggest you go back and look at your design again), then use a pointer instead of the reference.

[PhysicsSteve]

I can't use an array as each object is a different class, though all inherited from the same base. But maybe I can use a tuple? I'll give this a try. The other option I found was, as you suggested, using base pointers with if's, then creating the reference from *pointer. I was just looking for something more streamlined/clever. Thanks all for your help!