error C2976: 'std::tr1::array' : too few template arguments in MS C++ express 2010

Question

I'm working on a Windows forms project in C++ Express 2010. Made some changes to the the Form.h and now get an error when compiling the program. Note the compiler suggests the error is in the main program - open gl test 2 - that #includes the form. All compiled fine for days as I developed the code, then changed something last night and now I get the error.

The main program in open gl test 2 is identical to that of any other forms based project I have created - I've compared to check [except for the obvious changes of namespace etc cause its a different project]

// open gl test 2.cpp : main project file.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "Form1.h"

using namespace opengltest2;

[STAThreadAttribute]
int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
{
    // Enabling Windows XP visual effects before any controls are created
    Application::EnableVisualStyles();
    Application::SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false); 

    // Create the main window and run it
    Application::Run(gcnew Form1());
    return 0;
} 

The error is:

1>open gl test 2.cpp(9): error C2976: 'std::tr1::array' : too few template arguments
1>          D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\include\array(18) : see declaration of 'std::tr1::array'
1>open gl test 2.cpp(9): error C3699: '^' : cannot use this indirection on type 'std::tr1::array'
1>          compiler replacing '^' with '*' to continue parsing

line that compiler is complaining about is

int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)

So the fault cant be in where the compiler claims it is - and I can not find a fault in the code in the included files - they compile correctly. I assume the error MUST be in form.h cause that's what I modified that causes this error, but I can not see it. And I'm pretty sure I did not change some project settings.

I ain't including the code for form1.h cause it's toooooo long. Guess what I'm looking for is peoples experience of searching for the error. What strategies can I use to resolve this? If I had hair to pull out I would be surrounded by it. Please help me save my non-existant hair.

Answer 1

It looks like the compiler is getting confused between the managed array type and the array type in the std library. This is probably because somewhere you're doing using namespace std - you should ideally explicitly reference the correct namespace (std::array or cli::array), or remove the include of <array> if it's not needed.

Note that the constant size std::array isn't suitable for use with command-line arguments - you'd need to use a variable size container like cli::array anyway.