Why doesn't C++ accept signed or unsigned char for arrays of characters

Question

I am using C++ in native mode with Visual Studio 2017. That compiler compiles the statement below without complaint:

const char * AnArrayOfStrings[]  = {"z1y2x3w4", "Aname"};

However, if I change the above statement to specify that char is signed or unsigned, the compiler emits a C2440 error. For instance, the statements below, do not compile:

const signed   char * AnArrayOfStrings2[] = {"z1y2x3w4", "Aname"};

const unsigned char * AnArrayOfStrings2[] = {"z1y2x3w4", "Aname"};

I fail to see the reason for the compiler refusing to compile the statement when the sign of char is made explicit.

My question is: is there a good reason that I have failed to see for the compiler refusing to compile those statements ?

Thank you for your help (I did research in StackOverflow, the C++ documentation, I used Google and, consulted about a dozen C/C++ books in an effort to find the answer myself but, a reason still eludes me.)

Answer 1

"z1y2x3w4" is const char[9] and there is no implicit conversion from const char* to const signed char*.

You could use reinterpret_cast

const signed char * AnArrayOfStrings[]  = {reinterpret_cast<const signed char *>("z1y2x3w4"),
                                           reinterpret_cast<const signed char *>("Aname")};