Re: Why moving a function from protected to public area in class causes error C2556

Why moving a function from protected to public area in class causes
error C2556 - overloaded function differs only by return type

I have a protected function called GetState like this:

enum EState GetState(void) const throw();

If I move this function from protected: to public: I get this compile
error:

xbasicsocket.cpp(247) : error C2556: 'enum CXBasicSocket::EState
__thiscall CXBasicSocket::GetState(void) const' : overloaded function
differs only by return type from 'enum EState __thiscall
CXBasicSocket::GetState(void) const'
       \xbasicsocket.h(154) : see declaration of 'GetState'
\xbasicsocket.cpp(247) : error C2371: 'GetState' : redefinition;
different basic types
       \xbasicsocket.h(154) : see declaration of 'GetState'

In the cpp file it is declared like this:

enum CXBasicSocket::EState CXBasicSocket::GetState(
) const throw()
{
   return m_eState;
}

Why am I geting this problem? How do I resolved?