oop - C++ use string to call object member function -

i have superclass entry , subclasses musicalbum, book , film. instances of these subclasses stored according name of item ie book1. name , type of these instances stored in vector cat_vector vector of objects of class libcatalogue stores name , type:

class libcatalogue{     std::string name;     std::string type; public:     libcatalogue(std::string name, std::string type);     std::string getname();     std::string gettype(); };  libcatalogue::libcatalogue(std::string name, std::string type) :name(name), type(type) {}; std::vector <libcatalogue> cat_vector; 

entries in vector made in constructor eg.

musicalbum::musicalbum(std::string a, std::string b, std::string borrower)     : name(a), artist(b), entry(borrower){     cat_vector.push_back(libcatalogue(name, "musicalbum"));  

each subclass has member function called printdetails(). want use loop step through each entry in cat_vector , print details of entry following not work:

int no = 1;     (auto = begin(cat_vector); != end(cat_vector); ++it)     {         std::string name_ = it->getname();         std::string type_ = it->gettype();         std::cout << "entry no. " << no << std::endl;         std::cout << "name: " << name_ << std::endl;         std::cout << "type: " << type_ << std::endl << std::endl;         if (type_ == "musicalbum"){             name_.printdetails();     //print using musicalbum member function         }     //etc...         no++; 

i know because name_ string , not object of of classes want call, haven't been able find way convert far. there way tell compiler name_ referring object of 1 of subclasses?

c++ statically typed compiled language.you cannot create variables on fly. fortunately, cases these, work around use lookup table. achieved through map key string , value function want associate , call particular string.

i know because name_ string , not object of of classes want call, haven't been able find way convert far. there way tell compiler name_ referring object of 1 of subclasses?

when qualify member, member name qualified respect type of variable not respect content. call name_.printdetails() mean trying invoke member function printdetails instance of type std::string std::string not have member function named printdetails.

a simple example extend above idea

struct spam {      enum { no_of_functions = 4 };     spam()     {         lookup_callback["foo1"] = std::bind(&spam::foo1, this);         lookup_callback["foo2"] = std::bind(&spam::foo2, this);         lookup_callback["foo3"] = std::bind(&spam::foo3, this);         lookup_callback["foo4"] = std::bind(&spam::foo4, this);     }     void foo1() { std::cout << "foo1" << std::endl; }     void foo2() { std::cout << "foo2" << std::endl; }     void foo3() { std::cout << "foo3" << std::endl; }     void foo4() { std::cout << "foo4" << std::endl; }      void call(std::string name)     {         if (lookup_callback.count(name) > 0)         {             lookup_callback[name]();         }         else         {             std::cerr << "invalid function call" << std::endl;         }     }     std::map<std::string, std::function<void(void)>> lookup_callback; }; // driver program test above functions int main() {     std::string name;     spam spam;     (std::cin >> name; name != "quit"; std::cin >> name)     {         spam.call(name);     } }