Compiler Error C2993

The latest version of this topic can be found at Compiler Error C2993.

identifier' : illegal type for non-type template parameter 'parameter'

You cannot declare a template with a structure or union argument. Use pointers to pass structures and unions as template parameters.

The following sample generates C2993:

// C2993.cpp  
// compile with: /c  
// C2993 expected  
struct MyStruct {  
   int a;char b;  
};  
  
template <class T, struct MyStruct S>   // C2993  
  
// try the following line instead  
// template <class T, struct MyStruct * S>  
class CMyClass {};  

This error will also be generated as a result of compiler conformance work that was done in Visual Studio .NET 2003: floating point non-type template parameters no longer allowed. The C++ standard does not allow floating point non-type template parameters.

If it is a function template, use a function argument to pass in the floating point non-type template parameter (this code will be valid in the Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio .NET versions of Visual C++). If it is a class template, there is no easy workaround.

// C2993b.cpp  
// compile with: /c  
template<class T, float f> void func(T) {}   // C2993  
  
// OK  
template<class T>   void func2(T, float) {}