// template7.cpp			By: Aiman Hanna -  ©1993-2005 Aiman Hanna

// This program illustrates more on template functions. 
// Since the type that a template defines, can be a primitive type, such as int,
// it might be more appropriate to create indicate it as "typename" instead of "class",
// which gives a felling that the type is of a class type.  
// Hence, the first line of a template function may alternatively, and preferably, 
// look like: 
//	template <typename Type>
// instead of 
//	template <class Type>
// In addition the program illustrates what happens if a call to a template function 
// includes invalid or potentially ambiguous parameters. 

//	Key Points: 	1) typename 


#include <iostream.h>


template <typename Type>
Type  min( Type a, Type b )
{
 return a < b ? a : b;		// same as:  if ( a < b ) return a; else return b;
}


class Car
{
	public: Car() {};
};


int main( )
{
 int x = 10, y = 5;
 double w = 13.2, z = 21.9;
 char ch1 = 'f', ch2 = 'k';

 cout << " The minimum value of the two integers x and y is: " << min( x, y ) 
 							             << endl << endl;
 cout << " The minimum value of the two doubles w and z is: " << min( w, z ) 
 							             << endl << endl;
 cout << " The minimum value of the two characters ch1 and ch2 is: " 
							<< min( ch1, ch2) << endl << endl;

 // The following calls would be illegal, however


// cout << " The minimum value of the two values x and w is: " << min( x, w ) 
// 							             << endl << endl;

// The above line would result in: 
/* error C2782: template parameter 'Type' is ambiguous, could be 'double'  or    'int'
*/


Car c1, c2;
// min( c1, c2 );
// The above line would also be illegal since there is no definition of the '<' operator 


return 0;
}


// The output of the program 
/*
 The minimum value of the two integers x and y is: 5

 The minimum value of the two doubles w and z is: 13.2

 The minimum value of the two characters ch1 and ch2 is: f
*/