assigning derived class pointer to base class pointer in C++

Question

I have following

class base
{
};

class derived : public base
{
  public:
   derived() {}
   void myFunc() { cout << "My derived function" << std::endl; }

};

now I have

base* pbase = new derived();
  pbase->myFunc();

I am getting error myFunc is not a member function of base.

How to avoid this? and how to make myFunc get called?

Note I should have base class contain no function as it is part of design and above code is part of big function

Answer 1

If you are adamant that this function should NOT be a part of base, you have but 2 options to do it.

Either use a pointer to derived class

derived* pDerived = new derived();
pDerived->myFunc();

Or (uglier & vehemently discouraged) static_cast the pointer up to derived class type and then call the function
NOTE: To be used with caution. Only use when you are SURE of the type of the pointer you are casting, i.e. you are sure that pbase is a derived or a type derived from derived. In this particular case its ok, but im guessing this is only an example of the actual code.

base* pbase = new derived();
static_cast<derived*>(pbase)->myFunc();