How to make one class have two names?

Question

I'm using a library that has only one difference between platforms/versions. One version calls the class btCollisionObject and other versions call it btCollisionObjectWrapper. If I could make this class have two names that still reference that class then all my problems would be solved. I tried: #define btCollisionObject btCollisionObjectWrapper; but it is not working. What is the correct way to give a class two names after the class has been defined?

Answer 1

Maybe

typedef btCollisionObjectWrapper btCollisionObject;

Better to do it using language tools instead of the preprocessor.

Answer 2

If I understand your problem correctly you will have to find a way of determining which platform you are compiling for, because I don't know which platforms you are using I can't give any advice on this however it is probably possible to do so via macros.

The solution to your problem will probably look a bit like this.

In C++98 using a type declaration

#ifdef __PLATFORM_SPECIFIC_DEFINE
    typedef btCollisionObjectWrapper btCollisionObject;
#endif

In C++11 using an alias declaration, this has the added advantage that they may be used with templates however in your case you could get away with a simple typedef.

#ifdef __PLATFORM_SPECIFIC_DEFINE
    using btCollisionObject = btCollisionObjectWrapper;
#endif

This will allow you to use btCollisionObject as the class name for the platform that uses btCollisionObjectWrapper

You will of course have to replace the __PLATFORM_SPECIFIC_DEFINE with a macro that is defined by the platform that uses btCollisionObjectWrapper.