c++ - Assigning an enum a max value via numeric_limits? -

i'm having trouble assigning element in enuma max value. first:

protected:     enum {default_padding=std::numeric_limits<enum>::max()}; 

results in:

./basecode.h:30:51: error: expected identifier or '{'     enum {default_padding=std::numeric_limits<enum>::max()};                                                   ^ ./basecode.h:30:59: error: expected type     enum {default_padding=std::numeric_limits<enum>::max()};  (and couple of others) 

second, switching to:

protected:     enum {default_padding=std::numeric_limits<unsigned int>::max()}; 

results in:

./basecode.h:30:27: error: expression not integral constant expression     enum {default_padding=std::numeric_limits<unsigned int>::max()}; 

how have numeric_limits give me value can use @ compile time enum?

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the library older, supports lot of older compilers , ides. need @ least c++03 , preferably c++98.

and standard caveats apply: simple make based project. not use autotools, not use cmake, not use boost, etc.

in c++03, std::numeric_limits<t>::max() static. in c++11, became static constexpr. need latter in order used in integral constant expression, compiling -std=c++11 do.

if can't use c++11, can use uint_max.