c++ - Call extended class function -

so have class called person

class person{     private:     public:       person();  } 

and 1 more class called patient

class patient : public person{      private:        string text_;     public:        patient();        void setsomething(string text){ text_ = text; } } 

now have created array of 5 people like

person *ppl[5]; 

and added 5 patients in each key of array like

ppl[0] = new patient(); ppl[1] = new patient(); ppl[2] = new patient(); ppl[3] = new patient(); ppl[4] = new patient(); 

now want call setsomething function from patient class this

ppl[0]->setsomething("test text"); 

but keep getting following error:

class person has no member named setsomething 

you have array of person*. can call public methods of person on elements of array, if point patient objects. able call patient methods, first have cast person* patient*.

person* person = new patient; person->setsomething("foo"); // error!  patient* patient = dynamic_cast<patient*>(person); if (patient) {   patient->setsomething("foo"); } else {   // failed cast. pointee must not patient }