How to iterate over string variables of a class object in C++? - c++

Question

So here I have a class definition of a Car and then I create a carObject with it. I want the user to input values for all the variables in the carObject. As you see here, I have managed to get user input, but my approach to this problem is inefficient in my opinion.
I notice that all of the user inputs, except for the first one are very similar. I would like to use a loop of some kind to iterate over the declaration statements, or blocks of statements, and change the variable every time. I would like to put an if statement to enter different input only for the first iteration of the loop. I know that in bash I could use a string variable to stand for the variable name, but I don't know if that's possible in C++.
Notice that the object name does not change, but only the variables that are associated with it. I also use the same word for the user input, which preferably should be changed every iteration. I also have a series of arrays which are named similarly. The purpose of these arrays is to tell the user what options are available for a particular variable.
Although I have previous programming experience, I am relatively new to C++. A block of code that would serve as a solution to my problem that involves a call to another function would suit my purposes. Here is my code below.
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
class Car {
public:
string Name;
string Model;
string Color;
string Transmission;
string Category;
};
int main() {
Car CarObject;
string modelOptions [3] = { "Ferrari", "Porsche", "Nissan" };
string colorOptions [4] = { "Blue", "Red", "Green", "White" };
string transmisionOptions [2] = { "Automatic", "Manual" };
string categoryOptions [3] = { "A", "B", "C" };
cout << "Enter " << "name" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Name;
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter " << "model" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cout << "Options are:";
for (const string &text: modelOptions) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Model;
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter " << "color" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cout << "Options are:";
for (const string &text: colorOptions) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Color;
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter " << "transmission" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cout << "Options are:";
for (const string &text: transmissionOptions) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Transmission;
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter " << "category" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cout << "Options are:";
for (const string &text: categoryOptions) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Category;
cout << endl;
...
return 0;
}

Answer 1

void Car::InputParameter(string& param, const string &msg, const vector<string>& options)
{
cout << msg << endl;
for (const string &text: options) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> param;
cout << endl;
}
I think you might want something like this. You just call it for each member.

Answer 2

This block of code:
cout << "Enter " << "category" << " for Car 1." << endl;
cout << "Options are:";
for (const string &text: categoryOptions) {
cout << " " << text;
}
cout << "." << endl;
cin >> carObject.Category;
cout << endl;
… can be replaced with a call to a function like this:
carObject.Category = userInput( "category", categoryOptions );
Clearly it returns a string (that is, a std::string).
The options argument should better be made a vector<string>.
Then just replace the other similar blocks with ditto calls to that function.
Is it a good idea to make that function a member function of Car?
No.
Consider, for example, how to then use Car in a GUI program (Graphical User Interface).