why the need for cin.unget() in this context, C++? - c++

I'm relatively new to programming and i was experimenting with some codes from Bjarne's book on principles and practice using C++.
I would like to know why is there the need for cin.unget() when the input is not an integer whereas cin.unget() is not needed when the input is an integer?
Do note that this code is not perfect as the author is merely attempting to illustrate some pointers on users' input and output. The code is as follows:
void skip_to_int()
{
if (cin.fail()){
cin.clear();
for (char ch; cin>>ch; ) { // throw away non-digits
if (isdigit(ch) || ch=='-') {
cin.unget();
return;
}
}
}
error("no input");
}
int main(){
cout << "Please enter an integer in the range 1 to 10(inclusive):\n";
int n = 0;
while (true) {
if (cin>>n) { // we got an integer; now check it
if (1<=n && n<=10) break;
cout << "Sorry " << n
<< " is not in the [1:10] range; please try again\n";
}
else {
cout << "Sorry, that was not a number; please try again\n";
skip_to_int(); }
}
}

It's scanning through your input stream to find digits or - which is part of a negative digit presumably. This is a rather curious way of stripping off things like spaces or tabs.
The reason for unget() is to push that character back into the stream so it can be parsed later with cin>>n. If you consumed it and threw it away it wouldn't be available at that point.

Related

std::cin failure leading to looped if statement in while loop

So I figure I'll put this here since I had to traverse a lot of docs and forums to find the definitive answer. I was trying to get input from the user and check if the input was an integer using isdigit() in an if statement. If the if statement failed the program would output an error message. Although, when a nondigit character was entered the program would loop through the error message endlessly. Here's that code:
int guess = -1;
while (game.getCurQuestion() <= 4) {
std::cout << "Guess: " << game.getCurQuestion() + 1 << std::endl;
std::cin >> guess;
if(isdigit(guess))
{
game.guess(guess);
else
{
std::cout << "Error\n"; //this would be looped endlessly
}
}
std::cout << "You got " << game.getCorrect() << " correct" << std::endl;
return 0;
}
NOTE: Solved, only posted to include my solution. Feel free to correct if I stated anything incorrectly.
The posted way will fail sometimes and will cast the doubles to integers if any doubles are input.
Use something like the following
int getIntInput() {
try {
std::string input;
std::cout << "\nPlease Enter a valid Integer:\t";
std::cin >> input;
size_t takenChars;
int num = std::stoi(input, &takenChars);
if (takenChars == input.size()) return num;
} catch (...) {}
return getIntInput();
}
Problem: The program kept hold of the non-integer value stored in the cin buffer. This leads to the program never leaving the error message.
Solution:
Use std::cin.fail() to check if the input matches the variable data type. I.E. int was the expected input but the user entered a char. In this case std::cin.fail() would be true.
In the case of std::cin.fail(), use std::cin.clear() and std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<int>::max(), 'n') std::cin.clear() will clear the error flag. The std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<int>::max(), 'n') will ignore any other input that is not an integer and will skip to the new line. Effectively progressing the program.
The solution implemented in my code looks like this:
int guess = -1;
while (game.getCurQuestion() <= 4) {
std::cout << "Guess: " << game.getCurQuestion() + 1 << std::endl;
std::cin >> guess;
if (std::cin.fail())
{
std::cout << "Please enter a valid number\n";
std::cin.clear();
std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<int>::max(), '\n');
}
game.guess(guess);
}
Hope this helps and that it saves some people the tedious research because of never learning std::cin error handling! Note: I'm aware my implementation skips the current move, call it punishment ;)

Need some help finding a logical error in my while loop

I am learning C++, and I am doing some exercises in the book I am using. One of them asks to write a program that asks a user how many numbers they want to add up. Then prompt for the numbers the user wants to add or to enter '|' once finished. The numbers are then pushed into a vector. Part of the program asks to check if the size of the vector is equal to the original number of input items and that is where I keep getting an error.
cout << "Please enter the numbers and | once you are done: ";
while(true)
{
for(int num; cin >> num; )
{
if(num == '|')
{
break;
}
ints.push_back(num);
}
if(ints.size() != n)
{
cout << "There are more or less numbers in the vector than originally specified\n"
<< "Vector will be cleared; please re-enter the values: ";
ints.clear();
continue;
}
else
{
break;
}
}
The problem is that if the number of input is off, the message goes into an infinite loop and I am not sure how to fix it.
EDIT: n is the variable that holds in the number of values user wanted to enter.
Thanks!
num is an integer and cin >> num won't extract | symbol. Comparison num == '|' may not work as expected because num could have the numeric value of | ascii symbol even when user did not input any | symbol. You should properly handle end marker reading:
// loop will break when user enters `|` because it is not an integer
// setting failbit of cin
for(int num; cin >> num;)
{
ints.push_back(num);
}
cin.clear(); // reset failbit making cin able to read again
// check the end marker entered by user
{
string end_marker;
cin >> end_marker;
if("|" != end_marker)
{
// use of endl will flush the stream ensuring that
// printed text won't stuck in the buffer
cout << "Please use | as end marker" << endl;
continue;
}
}
Here is how I implemented it. I am worried about the logic in your while loop. I had been taught to avoid while(true) whenever possible. You know the logic behind how your code should work. With more practice you'll start to recognize the conditions you need to use. I am sure there are better ways to do it. But this is the way I tried it.
But to answer your question, the main reason it is failing is because integers cannot compare themselves with characters.
if(num == '|')
That does not work since num is an integer and not a character.
Normally I would implement this in a class and since global variables are not highly looked upon I created my own namespace. You'll have to finish the rest of the logic yourself however:
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <string>
namespace global
{
std::vector<std::string> strings;
std::vector<int> ints;
std::string a = " ";
int num = 0;
}
void doWork()
{
std::cout << "Please enter the number of integers you would like to add up: ";
std::cin >> global::num;
std::cout << "Please enter the numbers and | once you are done: ";
while (global::a != "|")
{
std::cin >> global::a;
global::strings.push_back(global::a);
}
global::strings.pop_back();
for(auto &e : global::strings)
{
global::ints.push_back(std::stoi(e));
}
}
int main()
{
doWork();
if(global::ints.size() != global::num)
{
std::cout << "Size of vector does not match the size specified. Clearing vector" << std::endl;
global::ints.clear();
global::strings.clear();
global::num = 0;
global::a = " ";
doWork();
}
}
I made a vector of char's and converted those into integers so that way you could add them up. The while loop should be checking for | rather than always running true. It then will check the size of the vector in the end, clear it if it does not match, and ask you to do it again. This is the best way that I could think of doing it.
EDIT: as VTT pointed out, char can only do one character at a time. I have converted it into a string in order to handle the conversion.
EDIT 2: reset the values of global::num and global::a to their default at the end of the failure in order to prevent crashing.

C++ user input restrictions

I'm currently working on a program and thinking if it is possible to implement another restrictions for the user input. The restrictions that I made as of now is that the user is only allow to input alpha and spaces, hitting enter without any input will not be also accepted.
cout<<"Input customer's lastname\t\t: ";
getline(cin,lname);
if(lname.find_first_not_of("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ")!=string::npos)
{
cout<<"You can only input alpha here!\n";
cin.clear();
goto p1;
}
else if(lname.empty())
{
cout<<"Please enter your lastname!\n";
cin.clear();
goto p1;
}
The another restrictions that I want is if the user input is all spaces, the program will also show a message. Second, I wonder if it's possible to detect the input if the user typed it properly like (de la Cruz) the words should be only separated by one space and if not another message will show. I cant think on how to do it, I already did some research but I couldn't found any similar to this with C++. I don't know if this is possible since I'm just starting to learn C++, or maybe I don't have enough logic at all. :(
A little help from me on checking for spaces.
bool has_only_spaces(const std::string& str)
{
return str.find_first_not_of (' ') == str.npos;
}
bool has_two_consecutive_spaces(const std::string& str)
{
for (unsigned int i = 1; i < str.length(); i++)
{
if ((str[i - 1] == str[i]) && (str[i] == ' '))
{
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
int main()
{
std::string lname;
std::cout << "Input customer's last name: ";
getline(std::cin, lname);
if (has_only_spaces(lname) || has_two_consecutive_spaces(lname))
{
std::cout << "Not a valid input" << std::endl;
std::cin.clear();
}
}
Create a function to check whether the input is valid. Use the function in a while loop.
bools isInputValid(std::string const& input)
{
// add all the checks
}
Use it as:
std::cout << "Enter input\n";
while ( getline(std::cout, line) )
{
if ( isInputValid(line) )
{
break;
}
std::cout << "Input is not vaild. Try again\n";
}

Not handling user input correctly

So, this program I am working on is not handling incorrect user input the way I want it to. The user should only be able to enter a 3-digit number for use later in a HotelRoom object constructor. Unfortunately, my instructor doesn't allow the use of string objects in his class (otherwise, I wouldn't have any problems, I think). Also, I am passing the roomNumBuffer to the constructor to create a const char pointer. I am currently using the iostream, iomanip, string.h, and limits preprocessor directives. The problem occurs after trying to enter too many chars for the roomNumBuffer. The following screenshot shows what happens:
The relevant code for this problem follows:
cout << endl << "Please enter the 3-digit room number: ";
do { //loop to check user input
badInput = false;
cin.width(4);
cin >> roomNumBuffer;
for(int x = 0; x < 3; x++) {
if(!isdigit(roomNumBuffer[x])) { //check all chars entered are digits
badInput = true;
}
}
if(badInput) {
cout << endl << "You did not enter a valid room number. Please try again: ";
}
cin.get(); //Trying to dum- any extra chars the user might enter
} while(badInput);
for(;;) { //Infinite loop broken when correct input obtained
cin.get(); //Same as above
cout << "Please enter the room capacity: ";
if(cin >> roomCap) {
break;
} else {
cout << "Please enter a valid integer" << endl;
cin.clear();
cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}
}
for(;;) { //Infinite loop broken when correct input obtained
cout << "Please enter the nightly room rate: ";
if(cin >> roomRt) {
break;
} else {
cout << "Please enter a valid rate" << endl;
cin.clear();
cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
}
}
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Read an integer and test whether it's in the desired range:
int n;
if (!(std::cin >> n && n >= 100 && n < 1000))
{
/* input error! */
}
Although Kerrek SB provide an approach how to address the problem, just to explain what when wrong with your approach: the integer array could successfully be read. The stream was in good state but you didn't reach a space. That is, to use your approach, you'd need to also test that the character following the last digit, i.e., the next character in the stream, is a whitespace of some sort:
if (std::isspace(std::cin.peek())) {
// deal with funny input
}
It seems the error recovery for the first value isn't quite right, though. You probably also want to ignore() all characters until the end of the line.

While loop with try catch fails at bad cin input

I can't seem to figure out why this falls into a loop after getting non-int input. I've tried cin.flush(), which doesn't seem to exist, cin.clear(), which seems like it should work, even cin.sync() after reading someone else post about it working, but didn't seem to make much sense. Also tried cin.bad().
Thank you very much for any help
Please enter the first number: f
Sorry, I don't think that's a number?
Please enter the first number: Sorry,
I don't think that's a number?
Please enter the first number: Sorry,
I don't think that's a number?
Please enter the first number: Sorry,
I don't think that's a number?
Please enter the first number: Sorry,
I don't think that's a number?Sorry,
you d on't get any more tries. Press
any key to continue . . .
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main(){
int entry;
int attempts = 1;
int result;
while(attempts <= 5) {
try {
cout << "\n\nPlease enter the first number: ";
cin >> entry;
if (cin.fail())
throw "Sorry, I don't think that's a number?";
if (entry < 0)
throw "Sorry, no negative numbers. Try something else? ";
cout << "\nNow the second number: ";
cin >> entry;
cin.clear();
cin.get();
}
catch (char* error) {
cout << error;
attempts++;
}
}
if (attempts > 5)
cout << "Sorry, you don\'t get any more tries.\n";
system("pause");
return 0;
}
You should think carefully what you want to do if user gives invalid input in this case. Usually in these cases the best solution is to read one line from the input and throw it away.
Try putting cin.clear() and std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(),'\n'); in your catch clause. cin.clear() clears the failure state in cin, and cin.ignore() throws away rest of the line waiting in the input buffer.
(And yes, you probably should rethink your use of exceptions).
The most straight-forward (but not usually the easiest nor the fastest) way of dealing with validation of line-based input is to always read it line at a time. This way no extra whitespace (such as linefeed characters) is left unread in the buffer in any case, and discarding erroneous input is also quite automatic.
// Infinite loop for retrying until successful
while (true) {
// Ask the user something
std::cout << prompt;
// Read the answer (one full line)
std::string line;
if (!std::getline(std::cin, line))
throw std::runtime_error("End of input while expecting a value");
// Put the line read into iss for further parsing
std::istringstream iss(line);
int val;
// Read val from iss and verify that reading was successful and
// that all input was consumed
if (iss >> val && iss.get() == EOF) return val;
std::cout << "Invalid input, try again!\n";
}
It is fun to make a BASIC style input function out of this:
template <typename Val> void input(std::string const& prompt, Val& val) {
// (the above code goes here, slightly adjusted)
}
int main() {
int w;
double l;
input("Enter weight in kg: ", w);
input("Enter length in m: ", l);
std::cout << "BMI: " << w / (l * l) << std::endl;
}
Notes for the pedantics who were going to downvote me:
function input should be specialized for std::string
exceptions thrown by the input function should be caught in main
My Problem was to block char input to a cin >> number
This error caused an 'infinite' loop showing my prompt cout << prompt
with no way of exit but kill the process ...
The following shows what worked for me!
========================================
double fi_trap_d() // function to return a valid range double catching errors
{
double fi_game_sec;
//-------------------------------------------
do
{
fi_game_sec = -1;
cout << fi_game_sec_c;
//------------------------------
cin.ignore(); // (1)
//------------------------------
try
{ cin >> fi_game_sec; cin.clear(); } // (2)
catch (...) //out_of_range)
{
fi_game_sec = -1;
cout << " Dis am an error!\n";
// just loop back as we asked for a number
}
} while (fi_game_sec < 1);
//-------------------------------------------
return fi_game_sec;
}
========================================
Despite trying the " Dis am an error! " has NEVER shown up.
The key was (1) & (2) !
Exceptions should be used to handle exceptional, unexpected situations. Incorrect input from a user is neither unexpected nor exceptional -- it's more or less the norm. Personally, I tend to just ignore most bad input completely (when it can't be prevented). When (and only when) they enter something unusable repeatedly is it even worth pointing it out to them. As such, I'd tend to write the code something like:
char ch;
int attempts = 0;
std::cout << "Please enter the first number: ";
do {
cin >> ch;
attempts++;
if (attempts > 5)
std::cerr << "The only allowable inputs are '0' through '9'\n";
} while (cin.good() && !isdigit(ch));
int first_number = ch - '0';
This reads the input as a character, so it's always removed from the input stream. Then it attempts to validate the input, and if it fails, attempts to read again. Of course, you might want/need to get a little more elaborate, such as reading an entire line, attempting to convert it to a number, and reading another line if that fails.
Why are you doing this with exceptions? You're not going to kill the program on input, so you shouldn't throw an exception.
Just print out your error message and attempt to read in again.
It looks like you would be better off with iostream's native exceptions. Enable with
cin.exceptions( ios::failbit );
try {
…
} catch( ios_base::failure & ) {
cin.clear();
…
}
Never, ever throw an an object not derived from std::exception, and especially not a native type like char*.