question on templates

[grscot]

Dear all, I have two functions: [code] a) Member* get_member(Book* book); b)Book* get_book(Member* member); [/code] The implementation code for the function prototypes is: a) [code] template Member* AssociationList::get_member(Book* book) { Member* member=0; bool searching=true; int index=0; while(searching) { if (this->association_list[index]) if (this->association_list[index]->linked_book() ==book) { member=this->association_list[index]->linked_member(); searching=false; } else index++; else index++; if (searching && (index == LIST_SIZE)) { searching=false; } } return member; } [/code] b) [code] template Book* AssociationList::get_book(Member* member) { Book* book=0; bool searching=true; int index=0; while(searching) { if (this->association_list[index]) if (this->association_list[index]->linked_member()==member) { book=this->association_list[index]->linked_book(); searching=false; } else index++; else index++; if (searching && (index == LIST_SIZE)) { searching = false; } } return book; } [/code] All I want to do is use one generic function for the two, so that from the main.cpp: [code] void main() { Listmember1; Listbook1; char menuChoice; do { cin>>menuChoice; switch(menuChoice) { case '1': cout<<'\n'; book1.addElement("Books"); break; case '2': cout<<'\n'; break; case '3': cout<<'\n'; book1.displayElement("Books"); break; case '4': cout<<'\n'; /*member1.addElement("Member");*/ break; case '5': cout<<'\n'; break; case '6': cout<<'\n'; /*member1.displayElement("Member");*/ break; case '7': cout<<'\n'; //book1.borrowElement(); break; case '8': cout<<'\n'; //book1.returnElement(); break; default: cout<<'\n'; cout<<"Invalid Selection\n"; } }while(menuChoice != '0' && !cin.eof()); } [/code] ...to call each one and dispaly either the books from a book array or the members from a member array. The'display' implementation code is: [code] template void List::displayElement(char* type) { if (num_elements == 0) cout<<"No "<