Error C2258 and error C2252 occur if you try to perform in-place initialization of static const integral member data in Visual C++ (241569)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0

This article was previously published under Q241569

SYMPTOMS

You may get the following error message if you try to perform in-place initialization of static const integral member data.

error C2258: illegal pure syntax, must be '= 0'
error C2252: 'x' : pure specifier can only be specified for functions

Please refer to the sample in the "More Information" section for details.

CAUSE

The compiler does not support in-place initialization of static const integral member data as specified in the C++ standard (section 9.2) quoted in the following:

4 - A member-declarator can contain a constant-initializer only if it declares a static member of integral or enumeration type.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following workarounds:

Use enum instead of static const int:
```
enum{x = 3};
						
```
Instantiate the member outside the class:
```
const int A::x=3;
						
```

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following example demonstrates the error.

//test.cpp
// compiler option needed: none

class A 
{ 
	const static int x = 3; 
};

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	6/2/2005
Keywords:	kbprb kbtshoot kberrmsg kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbpending KB241569 kbAudDeveloper