cin keyword not working in text editor - c++

Question

I'm using the scite text editor (I cannot make use of any IDE or compiler since I'm required to also utilize Makefiles which is only possible if I use some sort of text editor) for all of my coding in c++. However, I'm consistently facing the same challenge; the text editor (I've attempted this on multiple ones including codepad and sublime text) isn't reading any input from the keyboard. Here is the source code:
#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
using namespace std;
const int SIZE_OF_ARRAY = 5;
int main(){
int x, y;
int counter = 0;
int elements[SIZE_OF_ARRAY];
cout << "Please enter a number ";
cin >> x;
cin.ignore();
cout << "Please enter a choice ";
cin >> y;
if(y == 1){
for(int i = 0; i < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; i++)
elements[i] = -1*SIZE_OF_ARRAY + x;
for(int j = 0; j < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; j++)
cout << elements[j] << " ";
}
else if(y == 2){
for(int i = 0; i < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; i++){
if(i == 0)
elements[i] = -1*x;
else{
elements[i] = elements[i-1] + 1;
}
}
for(int j = 0; j < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; j++)
cout << elements[j] << " ";
}
else if(y == 3){
for(int i = 0; i < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; i++){
counter++;
elements[i] = 7*x*counter;
}
for(int j = 0; j < SIZE_OF_ARRAY; j++)
cout << elements[j] << " ";
}
}
The program is supposed to take as an input any number from the user and, depending on a numeric choice (between one and three) entered by the user, manipulate the value first entered somehow.
Choice one (User picks first choice)
The program negates the size of the array and adds the number which the user first entered and fills the array with the resulting value.
Choice Two (User picks second choice)
The program negates the number entered by the user, places this in the first array location then each successive element is added one unit more than the previous one.
Choice Three (User picks third choice)
Fills the array with the first five multiples of seven. Then shifts each number by a factor equivalent to the number the user had first entered.
I've ran it on an IDE (Codeblocks) and it works perfectly well. However, on any text editor, the 'cout' statements are printed with the variables x and y taken to each be equal to zero rather than being set to the value entered from the keyboard. It doesn't even allow any keyboard input. Any answer regarding how I can fix this would be immensely appreciated.

Answer 1

Hoosain, continuing from the comments above, when you use an IDE, you must configure the path to your compiler as well as all compiler options you wish to use, and the location for the resulting executable and object files, etc. When you used CodeBlocks on windows, you essentially got lucky that CodeBlocks will automatically detect whether MinGW is installed and set its compiler configuration to allow you to build and run your code without you having to configure the compiler details. Geany is another editor that does a good job auto-detecting and using MinGW.
For the remaining IDE's it is up to you to configure them to find and use the compiler you have installed (MinGW), as well as configuring all desired compiler options (at minimum enable compiler warning with -Wall -Wextra).
That is where new programmers who have only used an IDE configured for them run into problems... Before you can tell an IDE where your compiler is located and which compiler options you want to use, you have to know where you compiler is located and understand what minimum set of compiler options you should use.
The way you learn to use a compiler is with the good old command line. (yep, that's cmd.exe on windows, often labeled as the "DOS Prompt" in earlier versions) An IDE is just a front-end to your compiler that executes the same commands you can simply enter on the command line to compile your program.
Learning how to use your compiler will save you an incredible amount of time when learning to code. You can simply open a command prompt and compile any file you wish, without setting up a project, etc.. When learning to code, trying to shoehorn small examples into an IDE is much more time consuming and often more trouble than it is worth. Rather than worry how to use an IDE, focus on "how to use your compiler" first.
Since you have MinGW installed on windows, all you have to do to be able to compile from the command prompt is add the path to the MinGW bin directory to your User Environment. You do that by adding the PATH as an Environment Variable here:
Start Menu-> (rt-click on Computer)-> Properties->
Advanced System Settings-> (Advanced tab)-> Environment Variables
In the Top window (your user variables), click to add (or edit) the PATH "Variable name". Generally, if you installed MinGW in the default location, you simply add the path as the "Variable value":
c:\MinGW\bin;c:\MinGW\mingw32\bin
(verify the path on your computer)
(note: windows separates path components by the semi-colon, so if there is already a PATH variable set, just add a semi-colon between what is there and what you add. Also if you already have a command prompt open, you must close it and open it again for the new path to take effect) Just open Start Menu-> Accessories-> Command Prompt (you can rt-click on the icon (top-left) and choose Properties to set the font (recommend Lucida Console 12) and height/width)
Now you have configured your command prompt to allow you to compile any file at any location within your filesystem. For example, I tested with the code you posted (I modified it to add prompts for the information). Compiling it is a piece of cake. I keep my executables in a bin directory to keep sources and binaries separate.
I named your file array_get.cpp.
Compile
Then just enter the normal g++ compiler command, and at minimum use -Wall -Wextra options to enable compiler warnings (you can add -pedantic and whatever additional warnings you want, I would recommend at least adding -Wshadow so your compiler will warn on any variables you declare in multiple scopes that could conflict). The -o option allows you to specify the location of the executable (I just use a separate bin directory as explained above). So to compile and link your code into bin\array_get.exe all I have to enter is:
C:\Users\david\Documents>g++ -Wall -Wextra -o bin\array_get array_get.cpp
(do not accept code until it compiles without warning -- read any warning (it gives line of problem), understand what it is telling you, and go fix it)
Example Use/Output
C:\Users\david\Documents>bin\array_get.exe
Please enter a number: 21
Please enter a choice (1-3): 3
147 294 441 588 735
That's it. Since MinGW uses gcc, the compiler commands you use on windows are the exact same you would use in Linux, so learning to compile from the command line pays double-benefit.
Now you have the luxury of using any text-editor to edit your code while you have the command prompt simply and easily re-compile as you wish until your code is correct. No project dialogs, no mess of a different folder for every file, just the freedom to compile any file you wish -- right from the command line. (I actually separate my sources in directory by type, e.g. c, cpp), you find what works best for your. I also use a simple bat file that takes the exename and source.cpp names as arguments and then compiles with the options I set -- it just cuts down on typing :)
Further, since you now where your compiler is located, and which options to use, you can open the Settings window on any IDE and set the appropriate compiler command and compiler options to allow the IDE compile your code for you. Give it a try, and let me know if you have further questions.