C++ Binary Tree Programming new Nodes leaving Scope issue - c++

Question

I am a java programmer teaching myself C++.
While writing a binary tree I found that my program did not "add" values to the tree.
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class BinaryTree {
struct Node {
public:
int val;
Node* left;
Node* right;
Node::Node(int v) {
val = v;
left = nullptr;
right = nullptr;
}
};
public:
BinaryTree() {
root = nullptr;
}
int size = 0;
int length();
bool BinaryTree::add(int v);
void printTree();
private:
void printTree(Node* n);
Node* root;
};
bool BinaryTree::add(int v) {
if (root == nullptr) {
root = new Node(v);
++size;
return true;
}
Node* ref = root;
cout << ref->val;
while (ref != nullptr) {
if (v < ref->val) {
ref = ref->left;
}
else if (v > ref->val) {
ref = ref->right;
}
else if (v == ref->val) {
return false;
}
}
Node *newNode = new Node(v);
ref = newNode;
++size;
return true;
}
void BinaryTree::printTree() {
printTree(root);
}
void BinaryTree::printTree(Node* n) {
if (n == nullptr) {
return;
}
printTree(n->left);
cout << n->val << endl;
printTree(n->right);
}
int BinaryTree::length() {
return size;
}
void main(int i) {
BinaryTree tree = BinaryTree();
tree.add(6);
tree.add(3);
tree.add(5);
tree.add(7);
tree.add(1);
tree.add(0);
tree.add(0);
tree.printTree();
cout << "binary tree sz is " << tree.length() << endl;
while (true) {};
}
I have been unable to find the problem in regards to why the tree doesn't commit new Nodes except the root.
I used "new" in the code when writing (ref = new Node) etc in the adds method because this should prevent the new Node from being destroyed once it leaves the scope.
If anyone can enlighten me on this issue I will be greatly thankful.

Answer 1

To add a node to the tree you have to link it to some existing node, as in
existing_node->{left or right} = new_node;
Once ref becomes nullptr, you don't have a valid existing node anymore, and it is too late to do anything. Instead, traverse the tree as long as ref->{left or right} is valid:
if (v < ref->val) {
if (ref->left) {
ref = ref->left;
} else {
ref->left = newNode;
return true;
}
}
// etc for v > ref->val