#ifndef PERSON_H
#define PERSON_H

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream> //Things needed in reading/writing from/to file.
#include <string>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;



//----------
class Person
//----------
{
public:
	static const string classID;
	//This is used for identifying the type in the savefile. Note that the type is common
	//for all objects of type Person, so it is made static(meaning that regardless of the
	//number of Person objects in the program, there is only one classID string.
	//static members must be defined outside the class - done in person.cpp


protected:
	string name; //Name of the person.

	virtual void PrintToFile(ostream& o, bool printClassID = true) const;
	//Used for printing object to file.

	virtual void ReadFile(ifstream& in);
	//This method is used when reading data from file. After a class identifier string has
	//been read and if it is 'known' class, then that classes ReadFile()-method gets called.

public:
		Person() : name("No name") {};
		Person(const string& aName) : name(aName) {}

		virtual ~Person() {};
		//Rule of thumb: If a class has virtual function(s), then make the 
		//destructor virtual.
		
		static void SaveToFile(vector<Person*>& cont, const string& filename = "data.txt");		
		static unsigned int LoadFromFile(vector<Person*>& cont, const string& filename = "data.txt");
		//Returns the number of objects loaded.

		static void ClearContainer(vector<Person*>& cont);	
		//Note: In the above functions the container type is specified to be vector, even thought
		//it could be for example list as well.

		virtual void Print(bool printClassID = true) const;
		//Used in printing the objects on screen.
};


#endif