I can't seem to be able to find much information on instantiating templat=
e=20
classes/functions accross module boundaries.  Is this something that is b=
eing=20
addressed by the standard?

I want to create a class library which is provided through an Win32 DLL u=
sing=20
VC++ 4.1.  I do not want to provide the source code of all the functions =
to=20
the clients.  However, several classes are templetatized, and I cannot pr=
edict=20
which template parameters will be used.

To quote the VC++ documentation:

**********************************************
Microsoft Specific =AE
Templates are not officially standardized and, as a result, different C++=
=20
compiler vendors have implemented them differently. The following list sh=
ows=20
some differences between this version of Visual C++ and other compilers. =
Note=20
that this list will change in future versions of the compiler.
=B7 The compiler cannot instantiate a template outside of the module in=20
which it is defined.
=B7 Templates cannot be used with functions declared with __declspec=20
(dllimport) or __declspec (dllexport).
=B7 All template arguments must be of an unambiguous type that exactly=20
matches that of the template parameter list. For example:
 =20
template< class T > T check( T );
template< class S > void watch( int (*)(S) );
watch( check );     //error
 =20
 The compiler should instantiate the check templated function in the=20
form int check( int ), but the inference can not be followed.
=B7 Friend functions must be declared before they are used in a templated=
=20
class. You cannot have a friend function defined within a class definitio=
n.=20
This is because the friend function could be a templated function, which =
would=20
cause an illegal nested template definition.
END Microsoft Specific
****************************************=09

This seems to be a major problem.  How does the standard address this.  A=
re=20
there any potential workarounds?


-phil


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