const char* and char* problem

[chamika.deshan]

Hello
I am confused with an error saying.

Error 1 error C2664: 'const char *TiXmlElement::Attribute(const char *) const' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'char *(__cdecl *)(void)' to 'const char *' c:\GameProject\TheGameProject\ContentManager\src\NodeWater.cpp 38

I have a method that returns a const char* as follows

class XMLNodeNames
{
public:
   static struct NODES {
     const static char* NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE() 
     { 
         return "enable";
      }
   }
};

I am using this return value as follows

void NodeWater::processNode(TiXmlElement *element)
{
   element->Attribute (XMLNodeNames::NODES::NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE);
...
}

This is the element element->Attribute definition

const char* Attribute( const char* name ) const;

But it gives me this

error C2664: cannot convert parameter 1 from 'char *(__cdecl *)(void)' to 'const char *'

error

Could you please help me with find the answer?
Thank you

[Ancient Dragon]

NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE is a function and Attrribute() wants a char*. Try this: element->Attribute (XMLNodeNames::NODES::NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE());

[chamika.deshan]

NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE is a function and Attrribute() wants a char*. Try this: element->Attribute (XMLNodeNames::NODES::NODE_WATER_ATTR_ENABLE());

ehhhhhk.
wasted more than a day to find the answer.
Thank you

But could you please tell me what does mean by

char *(__cdecl *)(void)

Bit difficult to find a meaning using google search because of these characters __

Thank you again

[Ancient Dragon]

That is pointer to a function that returns char*. __cdecl is a calling convention, which is a method used by compilers to pass parameters on the stack and clean up the stack when the runction returns to its caller.

[chamika.deshan]

Thank you very much for the explanation. It really helps.