TITLE: Preventing automatic variables of a class PROBLEM: hlf@nic.cerf.net (Howard Ferguson), I wish to define a class in a library which the library user can create by dynamic allocation via the new operator, but I want to prevent him from creating automic instances. RESPONSE: nikki@trmphrst.demon.co.uk (Nikki Locke), 6 Jan 93 Leave the constructors public. Make the DESTRUCTOR private. Provide an inline member function ... void destroy() { delete this; } Users have to call destroy instead of delete, but they won't be able to create automatic, static or extern objects of the class.