How to use the remove_if STL function in Visual C++ (156532)



The information in this article applies to:

  • The Standard C++ Library, when used with:
    • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 4.2
    • 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 4.2
    • 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
    • Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2002)
    • Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2003)

This article was previously published under Q156532

SUMMARY

The sample code in this article illustrates how to use the remove_if, end, begin, and bind2nd STL functions in Visual C++.

MORE INFORMATION

Required Header

<algorithm>
				

Prototype

template<class ForwardIterator, class Predicate> inline
ForwardIterator remove_if(ForwardIterator first,

                             ForwardIterator last,
                             Predicate pred)
				
NOTE: The class/parameter names in the prototype do not match the version in the header file. Some have been modified to improve readability.

Description

The remove_if algorithm removes all elements from the range (first, last) that cause the predicate to return true. It returns an iterator equal to last - N, where N = number of elements removed. The last N elements of the range have undefined values. The size of the container remains the same.

Sample Code

NOTE: The first line in the sample code section is: // Compile options needed: /GX

In VC++ .NET, /EHsc is set by default and is equivalent to /GX.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
// 
// Compile options needed: /GX
// 
// remove_if.cpp : Illustrates how to use the remove_if function.
// 
// Functions:
// 
//   remove_if - remove all elements from the sequence that
//               satisfies a predicate.
//   bind2nd - Returns true for elements for which the condition is true
//   begin - Returns an iterator that points to the first element in a
//           sequence
//   end - Returns an iterator that points one past the end of a sequence
// 
// Written by Kalindi Sanghrajka
// of Microsoft Product Support Services,
// Software Core Developer Support.
// Copyright (c) 1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 

// disable warning C4786: symbol greater than 255 character,
// okay to ignore

#pragma warning(disable: 4786)


// disable warning C4244: possible loss of data,
// okay to ignore

#pragma warning(disable: 4244)


#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>
#include <functional>

#if _MSC_VER > 1020   // if VC++ version is > 4.2
   using namespace std;  // std c++ libs implemented in std
   #endif

void main()

{

    const int VECTOR_SIZE = 8 ;

    // Define a template class vector of integers
    typedef vector<int, allocator<int> > IntVector ;

    //Define an iterator for template class vector of integer
    typedef IntVector::iterator IntVectorIt ;

    IntVector Numbers(VECTOR_SIZE) ;   //vector containing numbers

    IntVectorIt start, end, it, last;

    start = Numbers.begin() ;   // location of first
                                // element of Numbers

    end = Numbers.end() ;       // one past the location
                                // last element of Numbers

    //Initialize vector Numbers
    Numbers[0] = 10 ;
    Numbers[1] = 20 ;
    Numbers[2] = 10 ;
    Numbers[3] = 15 ;
    Numbers[4] = 12 ;
    Numbers[5] = 7 ;
    Numbers[6] = 9 ;
    Numbers[7] = 10 ;

    cout << "Before calling remove_if" << endl ;

    // print content of Numbers
    cout << "Numbers { " ;
    for(it = start; it != end; it++)
        cout << *it << " " ;
    cout << " }\n" << endl ;

    // remove all elements from Numbers that <= 10
     last = remove_if(start, end, bind2nd(less_equal<int>(), 10) ) ;

    cout << "After calling remove_if" << endl ;

    // print content of Numbers
    cout << "Numbers { " ;
    for(it = start; it != end; it++)
        cout << *it << " " ;
    cout << " }\n" << endl ;

    //print number of elements removed from Numbers
    cout << "Total number of elements removed from Numbers = "
        << end - last << endl ;

    //print only the valid elements of Number
    cout << "Valid elements of Numbers { " ;
    for(it = start; it != last; it++)
        cout << *it << " " ;
    cout << " }\n" << endl ;

}
				
Program output follows:
Before calling remove_if
Numbers { 10 20 10 15 12 7 9 10  }

After calling remove_if
Numbers { 20 15 12 15 12 7 9 10  }

Total number of elements removed from Numbers = 5
Valid elements of Numbers { 20 15 12  }
				

REFERENCES

Visual C++, version 4.2, Visual C++ Books Online; click Visual C++ Books, C/C++, and then Standard C++ Library Reference.

For more information about the remove_if function, visit the following Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) Web site:

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/22/2005
Keywords:kbcode kbinfo KB156532 kbAudDeveloper