check if member exists using enable_if

Question

Here's what I'm trying to do:

template <typename T> struct Model
{
    vector<T> vertices ;

    #if T has a .normal member
    void transform( Matrix m )
    {
        each vertex in vertices
        {
          vertex.pos = m * vertex.pos ;
          vertex.normal = m * vertex.normal ;
        }
    }
    #endif

    #if T has NO .normal member
    void transform( Matrix m )
    {
        each vertex in vertices
        {
          vertex.pos = m * vertex.pos ;
        }
    }
    #endif
} ;

I've seen examples of using enable_if, but I cannot understand how to apply enable_if to this problem, or if it even can be applied.

Answer 1

This has become way easier with C++11.

template <typename T> struct Model
{
    vector<T> vertices;

    void transform( Matrix m )
    {
        for(auto &&vertex : vertices)
        {
          vertex.pos = m * vertex.pos;
          modifyNormal(vertex, m, special_());
        }
    }

private:

    struct general_ {};
    struct special_ : general_ {};
    template<typename> struct int_ { typedef int type; };

    template<typename Lhs, typename Rhs,
             typename int_<decltype(Lhs::normal)>::type = 0>
    void modifyNormal(Lhs &&lhs, Rhs &&rhs, special_) {
       lhs.normal = rhs * lhs.normal;
    }

    template<typename Lhs, typename Rhs>
    void modifyNormal(Lhs &&lhs, Rhs &&rhs, general_) {
       // do nothing
    }
};

Things to note:

• You can name non-static data members in decltype and sizeof without needing an object.
• You can apply extended SFINAE. Basically any expression can be checked and if it is not valid when the arguments are substituted, the template is ignored.