C++ :: Dot Operator Versus Arrow

I understand that the dot operator is:

Code: a.b "a"

is the actual object (not a memory location) and "b" is the member. I also understand the arrow to mean:

Code: a->b "a"

is a pointer to a struct and "b" is it's member so "a" is dereferenced then "b" is given.

Here is where I get a little confused. I have a class:

exampleclass.h
Code:
#ifndef EXAMPLECLASS_H_INCLUDED
#define EXAMPLECLASS_H_INCLUDED
class exampleclass{

[Code].....

Also if ec1 had a public variable and I wanted to access it would it be referenced the same way as the method I call in ec1?