C++ inheritance with overloading not compiling? - c++

I am making a Poker game in C++, and I am just trying to get started.
I need the ability to compare "Hands", to see which one is greater, equal, or lesser.
So, I have a Hand class now, and I made two other sub-classes that are called Straight and ThreeOfKind (I will add the rest later.
The Hand class has a method called compareTo(Hand* otherHand), it then checks the hand ranking to see which one is better. Also, with the Straights and Three of a Kinds, you can compare them together when they are of the same rank. Like Straights with Straights and Three of a Kinds with Three of a Kinds.
I wrote some initial code today, and my problem is, when I try to call "Hand's" compareTo(Hand* otherHand) method and pass in a Hand, Straight, or Three of a Kind, the compiler complains as it is trying to force me to use the Straight's compareTo(Straight* otherStraight) method. So, I should have overloading, but it's not working.
So in the Straight class after inheritance is done, we should have these two methods:
int Hand::compareTo(Hand* otherHand);
int Straight::compareTo(Straight* otherStraight);
// But, if you do this, it works:
Straight myStraight1 = new Straight(7);
Straight myStraight2 = new Straight(5);
myStraight1.compareTo(myStraight2);
// This is valid...
// If you do this, then the compiler complains!
Straight myStraight3 = new Straight(10);
ThreeOfKind myTrips4 = new ThreeOfKind(3);
myStraight3.compareTo(myTrips4);
// This above line complains that you cannot convert a ThreeOfKind to a Straight
// Even though I am trying to use Hand's compareTo(Hand* otherHand) method and
// cast a Three of a Kind to a Hand object,
// it fails with the overloading!
Here is all the source code...
//////////////////////////
// C++ main header file //
//////////////////////////
#pragma once
class Hand {
private:
int ranking;
public:
Hand(int aRanking);
Hand();
int getRanking();
int compareTo(Hand* otherHand);
};
class Straight : public Hand {
private:
int highCard;
public:
Straight(int aHighCard);
Straight();
int getHighCard();
int compareTo(Straight* otherStraight);
};
class ThreeOfKind : public Hand {
private:
int tripsValue;
public:
ThreeOfKind(int aTripsValue);
ThreeOfKind();
int getTripsValue();
int compareTo(ThreeOfKind* otherThreeOfKind);
};
///////////////////////////
// C++ main .cpp file... //
///////////////////////////
#include <iostream>
#include "PokerTest1.h"
using namespace std;
Hand::Hand(int aRanking) {
this->ranking = aRanking;
}
Hand::Hand() {
this->ranking = 0;
}
int Hand::getRanking() {
return this->ranking;
}
int Hand::compareTo(Hand* otherHand) {
cout << "COMPARING HANDS..." << endl;
if (this->getRanking() < otherHand->getRanking()) {
cout << "HANDS RETURNING -1..." << endl;
return -1;
}
else if (this->getRanking() > otherHand->getRanking()) {
cout << "HANDS RETURNING 1..." << endl;
return 1;
}
cout << "HAND RANKINGS ARE EQUAL..." << endl;
if (this->getRanking() == 4 && otherHand->getRanking() == 4) {
cout << "HANDS ARE BOTH STRAIGHTS..." << endl;
Straight* myStraight1 = (Straight*)this;
Straight* myStraight2 = (Straight*)otherHand;
cout << "COMPARING BOTH STRAIGHTS..." << endl;
return myStraight1->compareTo(myStraight2);
}
else if (this->getRanking() == 3 && otherHand->getRanking() == 3) {
cout << "HANDS ARE BOTH THREE OF A KINDS..." << endl;
ThreeOfKind* myTrips1 = (ThreeOfKind*)this;
ThreeOfKind* myTrips2 = (ThreeOfKind*)otherHand;
cout << "COMPARING BOTH TRIPS..." << endl;
return myTrips1->compareTo(myTrips2);
}
return 0;
}
Straight::Straight(int aHighCard) : Hand(4) {
this->highCard = aHighCard;
}
Straight::Straight() : Hand(4) {
this->highCard = 0;
}
int Straight::getHighCard() {
return this->highCard;
}
int Straight::compareTo(Straight* otherStraight) {
cout << "INSIDE STRAIGHT COMPARE TO..." << endl;
if (this->highCard < otherStraight->highCard) {
cout << "STRAIGHT COMPARE RETURNING -1..." << endl;
return -1;
}
else if (this->highCard > otherStraight->highCard) {
cout << "STRAIGHT COMPARE RETURNING 1..." << endl;
return 1;
}
cout << "STRAIGHT COMPARE RETURNING 0..." << endl;
return 0;
}
ThreeOfKind::ThreeOfKind(int aTripsValue) : Hand(3) {
this->tripsValue = aTripsValue;
}
ThreeOfKind::ThreeOfKind() : Hand(3) {
this->tripsValue = 0;
}
int ThreeOfKind::getTripsValue() {
return this->tripsValue;
}
int ThreeOfKind::compareTo(ThreeOfKind* otherThreeOfKind) {
cout << "INSIDE STRAIGHT COMPARE TO..." << endl;
if (this->tripsValue < otherThreeOfKind->tripsValue) {
cout << "TRIPS COMPARE RETURNING -1..." << endl;
return -1;
}
else if (this->tripsValue > otherThreeOfKind->tripsValue) {
cout << "TRIPS COMPARE RETURNING 1..." << endl;
return 1;
}
cout << "TRIPS COMPARE RETURNIN 0..." << endl;
return 0;
}
int main()
{
// Test the classes...
// with Straight compared to a Three of a Kind.
// Should try to invoke Hand::compareTo(Hand* otherHand) { ... };
// But, instead, it try to invoke Straight::compareTo(Straight* otherStraight) { ... };
// If you put both these methods in the Straight class (rather than using inheritence, it works)
// If you delete Straight::compareTo(Straight* otherStraight) { ... }, the line below compiles
// It is just strange why it won't compile...
Straight* myStraightA = new Straight(9); // Straight of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
ThreeOfKind* myTripsB = new ThreeOfKind(2); // Three of a Kind of 2, 2, 2
cout << "Compare results..." << endl;
cout << myStraightA->compareTo(myTripsB) << endl; // Compiler error...
return 0;
}
Also, here is a list of the hand rankings:
0 → high card
1 → pair
2 → two pair
3 → three of a kind
4 → straight
5 → flush
6 → full house
7 → quads
8 → straight flush
9 → royal flush
Basically I have a field in the Hand class that stores these rankings as integers. Just so you know.
Lastly, this is the compiler error message:
error C2664: 'int Straight::compareTo(Straight )': cannot convert argument 1 from 'ThreeOfKind' to 'Straight*'

You are trying to overload across classes.
The compiler looks for a compareTo method, finds it in Straight, and doesn't look at Hand. If you add an appropriate using statement, you can tell it to look at Hand's compareTo as well to accomplish your overloading.
class Straight : public Hand {
private:
int highCard;
public:
using Hand::compareTo; // <<< HERE
Straight(int aHighCard);
Straight();
int getHighCard();
int compareTo(Straight* otherStraight);
};
Instead of doing this, I'd recommend you use getRanking() for comparison between hands of different hand types, and define getTieBreaker() overridden by subclasses to handle cases of the same type of hand.
class Hand {
public:
int getRanking();
// virtual causes subclass' version to be called if done from reference or pointer.
virtual int getTieBreaker();
};
This simplifies how Hand compares:
int Hand::compareTo(Hand* otherHand) {
if (this->getRanking() < otherHand->getRanking()) {
return -1;
}
else if (this->getRanking() > otherHand->getRanking()) {
return 1;
}
if (this->getTieBreaker() < otherHand->getTieBreaker()) {
return -1;
}
else if (this->getTieBreaker() > otherHand->getTieBreaker()) {
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
And lets you define it in Straight:
class Straight : public Hand {
//...
public:
int getHighCard();
int getTieBreaker();
};
int Straight::getTieBreaker() {
return this->highCard;
}

Related

How to implement classes derived from an abstract with different methods?

I have implemented different classes derived from an abstract class and each one has different methods. The problem is that I have to declare the object only at runtime, so I have to create a pointer to the base class and I can't use the methods of each derived class.
I have created an example to explain better what I mean:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class poligon
{
public:
double h, l;
void setPoligon(double h, double l) {
this->h = h;
this->l = l;
}
virtual double GetArea() = 0;
virtual void GetType() = 0;
};
class triangle : public poligon
{
double GetArea() { return l*h / 2; }
void GetType() { cout << "triangle" << endl; }
double GetDiag() { return sqrt(l*l + h*h); }
};
class rectangle : public poligon
{
double GetArea() { return l*h; }
void GetType() { cout << "rectangle" << endl; }
};
void main()
{
poligon* X;
int input;
cout << "1 for triangle and 2 for rectangle: ";
cin >> input;
if (input == 1)
{
X = new triangle;
}
else if (input == 2)
{
X = new rectangle;
}
else
{
cout << "Error";
}
X->h = 5;
X->l = 6;
X->GetType();
cout << "Area = " << X->GetArea() << endl;
if (input == 2)
{
cout << "Diangonal = " << X->GetDiag() << endl; // NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE " GetDiag()" IS NOT A METHOD OF "poligon" CLASS !!!
}
}
Obviously the method X->GetDiag() at the end of the main can't be used because it is not a method of the "poligon" class.
Which is the correct implementation of a program with this logic?
Introduce a method in the base class
virtual bool boHasDiagonal(void) =0;
Declare unconditionally in base class:
virtual double GetDiag();
Implement it differently in both derived classes:
virtual bool boHasDiagonal(void) {return true;} // rectangle
virtual bool boHasDiagonal(void) {return false;} // triangle
Change output line:
if (X->boHasDiagonal())
{cout << "Diangonal = " << X->GetDiag() << endl;}
For a nice touch of paranoia (a healthy state of mind for a programmer in my opinion), use concept by Gluttton of a default implementation of GetDiag(), which signals an error (as in his answer here) .
For the case of many poligons, I like the proposal by Rakete1111 in the comment.
Define method in the base class which define implementation throws exception:
class poligon
{
public:
virtual double GetDiag()
{
throw std::logic_error ("Called function with inappropriate default implementation.");
}
};
In class that has meaningful implementation override it:
class rectangle : public poligon
{
double GetDiag() override
{
return diagonale;
}
};
Usage:
int main () {
try {
X->GetDiag();
}
catch (...) {
std::cout << "Looks like polygon doesn't have diagonal." << std::endl;
}
}
You can use dynamic_cast.
dynamic_cast<triangle*>(X)->GetDiag();
Note that you already have a bug: You only create a triangle if input == 1, but you get the diagonal if input == 2. Also, the above is not really safe, because dynamic_cast can return nullptr if the conversion is invalid.
But it would be better to check whether dynamic_cast succeeds, then you could also drop the input == 2 check:
if (triangle* tri = dynamic_cast<triangle*>(X))
std::cout << "Diagonal = " << tri->GetDiag() << '\n';
Use dynamic casting to check if the base class' pointer is actually a triangle, like this:
int main()
{
...
if(triangle* t = dynamic_cast<triangle*>(X))
std::cout << "Triangle's diagonal = " << t->GetDiag() << std::endl;
return 0;
}
PS: I assume that your example is just a draft, since it has some bugs.
You use dynamic_cast to access subclass-methods.
It returns nullptr if it is not derived from the class. This is called down cast, as you are going down the class-tree:
triangle* R = dynamic_cast<triangle*>(X);
if(R) {
cout << "Diagonale = " << R->GetDiag() << '\n';
};
Edit: You can put the declaration in the first line into the if-condition, which goes out of scope outside the if-statement:
if(triangle* R = dynamic_cast<triangle*>(X)) {
cout << "Diagonale = " << R->GetDiag() << '\n';
};
if(rectangle* R = ...) {...}; // reuse of identifier
If you want to allow, that multiple subclasses have the GetDiag function you can inherit from the poligon-class and another diagonal-class. The diagonal-class only defines the GetDiag function and has not really to do with the polygon-class:
class polygon {
// stays the same
};
class diagonal {
virtual double GetDiag() = 0;
};
class triangle : public polygon, public diagonal {
// body stays the same
};
And like above, you access the methods via casting with dynamic_cast but this time you cast to type diagonal. This time it is side cast, because poligon has nothing to do with diagonal, so you are going sideways in the tree.
polygon diagonal
| | |
| |_____________|
| |
| |
rectangle triangle
As others have said, you can use dynamic_cast to change the static type in your program, add a method to the base-class with a pseudo implementation or use some form of type-switching. However, I would consider all these answers as signs of a design flaw in your program and would reject the code. They all encode assumptions about the types existing in your program into the code and pose a maintenance burden. Imagine adding new types of shapes to your program. You then have to search and modify all the places you dynamic_cast your objects.
I think your example hierarchy is wrong in the first place. When you declare a base-class for ploygons, and derive triangles from it, the whole purpose of polymorphism is to be able to treat similar objects identically. So anything that is not common behavior (not implementation) is put in the base-class.
class poligon
{
public:
double h, l;
void setPoligon(double h, double l) {
this->h = h;
this->l = l;
}
virtual double GetArea() = 0;
virtual void GetType() = 0;
};
class triangle : public poligon
{
double GetArea() { return l*h / 2; }
void GetType() { cout << "triangle" << endl; }
double GetDiag() { return sqrt(l*l + h*h); }
};
You explicitly say that I can replace any instance of polygon with an instance of triangle everywhere in your program. This is the the Liskov substitution principle. What about circles? They don't have height and length. Can you use a rectangle everywhere you expect a polygon? Currently you can, but polygons can have more edges, be self-intersecting etc. I cannot add a new edge to a rectangle, otherwise it would be a rectangle anymore.
There are some solutions, but as it is a design question, the solution depends on what you want to do with the objects.
A downcast is usually a sign of a bad design and is rarely needed in practice.
I can't see why it is needed in this particular case. You have discarded the information about which type you have for no reason. An alternative could be:
void printDiagonal(const triangle& tri)
{
std::cout << "Diangonal = " << tri.GetDiag() << std::endl;
}
void process(poligon& p)
{
p.h = 5;
p.l = 6;
p.GetType();
std::cout << "Area = " << p.GetArea() << std::endl;
}
int main()
{
int input;
std::cout << "1 for triangle and 2 for rectangle: ";
std::cin >> input;
if (input == 1)
{
triangle tri;
process(tri);
printDiagonal(tri);
}
else if (input == 2)
{
rectangle rect;
process(rect);
}
else
{
std::cout << "Error\n";
}
}
Live demo.

Parsing 2 Arrays to friend function

I am having troubles by accessing 2 of my arrays at the same time with my friend function.
Here is my code (the important part):
int main(){
// Array with fracture, example 3/4
cFracture cFArr[8] = {cFracture(3,4), cFracture(24,6)};
// One fracture have to be added to other
// I am missing something here ->
add(cFArr[0]);
return 0;
}
I need to understand, how to parse 2 Arrays at the same time.
Here is my add function, here is nothing in, i need to understand how to get 2 arrays at the same time...
int add(cFracture add_f){
cout << "Result after adding fracture 1 to fracture 2: " << add_f.a << "/" << add_f.b << endl;
return 0;
}
And here is my class:
cFracture{
int a;
int b;
public:
cFracture(int a_in = 0, int b_in = 0){
a = a_in;
b = b_in;
}
friend int add(cFracture add_f);
};
How should I go on? How to get 2 arrays at the same time, so i can add one to the other? It have to be done with friend function.
Just add another argument to the function.
int add(cFracture add_f1, cFracture add_f2){
cout << "Result after adding fracture 1 to fracture 2: " << add_f1.a + add_f2.a << "/" << add_f1.b + add_f2.b << endl;
return 0;
}
and change the friend declaration to match the new function.
cFracture{
int a;
int b;
public:
cFracture(int a_in = 0, int b_in = 0){
a = a_in;
b = b_in;
}
friend int add(cFracture, cFracture);
};
Then you can do:
add(cFarr[0], cfArr[1]);
in the main() function.

C++ use a class in a class (in a class) and call their functions

I have the following problem: I wanted to redo a project from good old C to C++ and make everything class(y) :) and keep it scalable from the beginning.
It is a simulation of cells (being part of a swarm) on a grid, so I decided the following structure:
class Simulation has an instance of
class Grid has an instance of
class Swarm has an instance of
class Cell
I defined the classes in separate header files. Then I need, of course, to be able to call functions in grid, swarm and cell as well. I wanted to do it straight forward:
Simulation mysim;
mysim.get_grid(0).any_function_here();
with the grid as return parameter
Grid Sim::get_grid(int grid_no)
{
std::cout << "sim.get_grid(" << grid_no << ") called." << std::endl;
if (grid_no <= amount_of_grids)
return this->test;//##//this->gridlist[grid_no];
else
std::cout << "you have not created this grid number yet" << std::endl;
Grid dummy;
return dummy;
}
It calls the function and works as long as no changes in the grid are made. These seem to be lost in space. Probably a pointer error, but I cannot find an error, since exactly the same code is working for the Simulation class...
More source:
int Grid::create_swarm(std::string name)
{
Swarm new_swarm;
new_swarm.set_name("Protoswarm");
swarmlist.push_back(new_swarm);
this->amount_of_swarms ++;
std::cout << "amount_of_swarms = " << amount_of_swarms << std::endl;
return 0;
}
Swarm Grid::get_swarm(int swarm_no)
{
std::cout << "grid.get_swarm(" << swarm_no << ") called." << std::endl;
if (swarm_no <= amount_of_swarms)
return swarmlist[swarm_no];
else
std::cout << "oh oh - you have not this swarm in here..." << std::endl;
Swarm dummy;
return dummy;
}
I can call the create_swarm function as often as I want, but the swarms do never appear and the counter does not raise in that grid, just temporarily as long as the funtion is in there. Am I missing something? Is it really just a pointer error? Why does this code work if I call it like this:
Grid newgrid;
newgrid.create_swarm();
A quickly c&p'ed MWE
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
class Sim
{
public:
Sim();
virtual ~Sim();
Grid get_grid(int grid_no);
protected:
private:
std::vector<Grid> gridlist;
int amount_of_grids = -1;
};
class Grid
{
public:
Grid();
virtual ~Grid();
int set_size(int x, int y);
int create_swarm(std::string name);
Swarm get_swarm(int swarm_no);
void print_swarms();
protected:
private:
std::vector<Swarm> swarmlist;
int amount_of_swarms = -1;
/*static const*/ int size_x;
/*static const*/ int size_y;
std::vector<std::vector<Field>> fields;
std::string gridname;
};
Grid Sim::get_grid(int grid_no)
{
std::cout << "sim.get_grid(" << grid_no << ") called." << std::endl;
if (grid_no <= amount_of_grids)
return this->gridlist[grid_no];
else
std::cout << "you have not created this grid number yet" << std::endl;
Grid dummy;
return dummy;
}
int Grid::create_swarm(std::string name)
{
Swarm new_swarm;
new_swarm.set_name("Protoswarm");
swarmlist.push_back(new_swarm);
this->amount_of_swarms ++;
std::cout << "amount_of_swarms = " << amount_of_swarms << std::endl;
return 0;
}
Swarm Grid::get_swarm(int swarm_no)
{
std::cout << "grid.get_swarm(" << swarm_no << ") called." << std::endl;
if (swarm_no <= amount_of_swarms)
return swarmlist[swarm_no];
else
std::cout << "oh oh - you have not this swarm in here..." << std::endl;
Swarm dummy;
return dummy;
}
using namespace std;
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
Sim mysim;
mysim.create_grid();
mysim.get_grid(0).create_swarm("Alpha-Swarm");
mysim.get_grid(0).create_swarm("Betaa-Swarm"); //doesn't work
Grid newgrid;
newgrid.create_swarm("Gamma-Swarm");
newgrid.create_swarm("Delta-Swarm"); // works, but is not needed.
return 0;
}
Grid Sim::get_grid(int grid_no) {...}
You are returning by value, not by reference. That means that what you are returning is a copy of your actual member. In your case, however, you want to be returning by reference in order to be able to make changes to the original object. Your code would become
Grid& Sim::get_grid(int grid_no) {...}
Keep in mind, however, that you will not be able to return any temporaries that way (such as your dummy Grid), so you will need to change your methods to circumvent this issue. If you do not want to do this, you could still return a pointer, although this would change the syntax a little.
Your get_grid and get_swarm methods return copies of original array items. You should return reference (or a pointer) to Grid or Swarm instead.

Passing several datatypes from a function to main to create a class using pointers [closed]

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I would like to start this thread by thanking you for taking to the time to read my query.
I have created a function called retreiveFile which as you would expects retreives a file and reads from it. The text it reads is a set of numbers and text which represent names, cost and that sort of thing.
I have used istringstream to read through the file, determine the starting number(so I know what the line represents(property, card, ect)). Currently I have the file outputting the text but only with its corresponding data.
Example:
9 Oakmoor Road 80 5 0
9 Eldon Road 50 5 0
I need to know how I could pass this information into a class as I assume because I am going to have many objects of the same class I need to pass the data into main somehow.
(I tried creating the class using constructor within the function but it would not work)
I am assuming I would have to create pointers for the information, pass it to main, create the constructors and then delete the pointers.
My question to you would be how could I do this efficiently as I need to create around 30 objects which could fit in several different types of classes as some have different parameters.
I'm sorry in advance in some information seems vague or confusing I am still, in my head, trying to picture how I could do it.
An example of one of the ways I've separated the text within the file so I can easily pass it over to its correct class.
if (word[i].find("1") == 0){ //starts with 1
istringstream is(word[i]);
string aword;
int loopTimes = 0;
while (is >> aword) { // read each word from line
string propertyArray[6];
if (loopTimes == 0){
string stringIdentificationNum = aword;
/* const char * charIdentificationNum = stringIdentificationNum.c_str();
int identificationNum = atoi(charIdentificationNum); */
cout << "(1.1)" << aword;
propertyArray[0] = aword;
}
else if (loopTimes == 1){
cout << "(1.2)" << aword;
propertyArray[1] = aword;
}
else if (loopTimes == 2){
cout << "(1.3)" << aword;
propertyArray[2] = aword;
}
else if (loopTimes == 3){
cout << "(1.4)" << aword;
propertyArray[3] = aword;
}
else if (loopTimes == 4){
cout << "(1.5)" << aword;
propertyArray[4] = aword;
}
else if (loopTimes == 5){
cout << "(1.6)" << aword << endl;
propertyArray[5] = aword;
}
loopTimes++;
/* Property(propertyArray[0], propertyArray[1], propertyArray[2], propertyArray[3], propertyArray[4], propertyArray[5]); */
}
}
An example of the propertyClass
class Property : public Card{
private:
int identificationNum;
string propertyName;
int propertyCost;
int propertyRent;
int propertyColour;
public:
//constructor
Property::Property(int inputIdentificationNum, string inputFName, string inputSName, int inputCost, int inputPropertyRent, int inputPropertyColour){
setIdentificationNum(inputIdentificationNum);
setFirstName(inputFName, inputSName);
setPropertyCost(inputCost);
setPropertyRent(inputPropertyRent);
setPropertyColour(inputPropertyColour);
cout << "Property Created" << endl;
}
//set data
void setIdentificationNum(int inputIdentificationNum){
identificationNum = inputIdentificationNum;
}
void setFirstName(string inputFName, string inputSName){
string nameCombined = inputFName + " " + inputSName;
propertyName = nameCombined;
}
void setPropertyCost(int inputCost){
propertyCost = inputCost;
}
void setPropertyRent(int inputPropertyRent){
propertyRent = inputPropertyRent;
}
void setPropertyColour(int inputPropertyColour){
propertyColour = inputPropertyColour;
}
//retreive data
int getIdentificationNum() {
return identificationNum;
}
string getName(){
return propertyName;
}
int getPropertyCost(){
return propertyCost;
}
int getPropertyRent(){
return propertyRent;
}
int getPropertyColour(){
return propertyColour;
}
};
Thank you in advance for reading this thread.
Passing pointers around is unnecessary for this task and is actually frowned on. An objects data should stay locked up and hidden in the object unless you have a really good reason to expose it. In this case OP doesn't.
What follows cleans up OP's code and fixes some of the problems that made their attempt unworkable and probably lead them down the road to over-complicating things further.
Example is a container for a list of properties. Rather than passing around pointers to to the properties, OP can pass around references to Example and read the properties from example. This allows Example to defend itself from its clients. With a pointer to a property, a client could mistakenly change change a value that could result in breaking Example or another client of Example. With a Getter method, Example can control access to the properties with whatever grain is required.
Example, in this case, allows everyone to see properties, so long as the property exists, but does not allow changing the property.
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <sstream>
#include <stdexcept>
class Example
{
private:
static constexpr size_t MAX_PROPERTIES = 6;
std::string propertyArray[MAX_PROPERTIES];
propertyArray is now a member variable and has scope that matches the object. Consider using a vector. It is not arbitrarily limited in size
public:
Example(std::stringstream & is)
{
std::string aword;
size_t looptimes = 0;
while (is >> aword && looptimes < MAX_PROPERTIES)
{
std::cout << "(1." << looptimes + 1 << ")" << aword << std::endl;
propertyArray[looptimes] = aword;
looptimes++;
This is where making propertyArray a vector really helps. You can use the push_back method to keep adding more and more properties. If you have a case with 8 properties in the future, it uses the exact same code as the 8 property version and you don't have to guard against overflow with the && looptimes < 6 in the while
}
}
std::string getProperty(size_t propertyNo)
New method used to get the properties for clients of Example. That way you don't have to pass around pointers to Example's data. Just pass around Example and if Example wants to give data, it can. No one can use an unprotected back door into Example to screw with Example's data without permission.
{
if (propertyNo < MAX_PROPERTIES)
{
return propertyArray[propertyNo];
}
throw std::out_of_range("Invalid property number");
}
};
And to test it out...
int main()
{
std::stringstream is ("A B C D E F G");
Example test(is);
try
{
std::cout << test.getProperty(4) << std::endl;
std::cout << test.getProperty(6) << std::endl;
}
catch (std::out_of_range & exc)
{
std::cout << exc.what() << std::endl;
}
}
Output:
(1.1)A
(1.2)B
(1.3)C
(1.4)D
(1.5)E
(1.6)F
E
Invalid property number
And now with a std::vector:
#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <vector>
class Example
{
private:
std::vector<std::string> propertyArray;
public:
Example(std::stringstream & is)
{
std::string aword;
while (is >> aword)
{
propertyArray.push_back(aword);
std::cout << "(1." << propertyArray.size() << ")" << aword << std::endl;
}
}
std::string getProperty(size_t propertyNo)
{
if (propertyNo < propertyArray.size())
{
return propertyArray[propertyNo];
}
throw std::out_of_range("Invalid property number");
}
};
int main()
{
std::stringstream is ("A B C D E F G");
Example test(is);
try
{
std::cout << test.getProperty(4) << std::endl;
std::cout << test.getProperty(7) << std::endl;
}
catch (std::out_of_range & exc)
{
std::cout << exc.what() << std::endl;
}
}
Output:
(1.1)A
(1.2)B
(1.3)C
(1.4)D
(1.5)E
(1.6)F
(1.7)G
E
Invalid property number

cout error while using functions

I've encountered a problem while trying to create a code which converts decimal numbers to binary, using functions. At first I created the code using only main function and it worked fine, but decided to modify it to use function. I believe code is written right, however when I try to cout my answer I get a big number like 115120160758866453687091316369641637416.
This is the code
#include <iostream>
#include <math.h>
using namespace std;
int* unsigned_dec(int dec_M) { //function for converting absolute part of numbers
int bin[8] = { 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 };
int ind = 7;
int arr_ind = 0;
for (int base = (int)abs(dec_M); base > 0; base = base / 2) {
if (base % 2 == 0) {
bin[arr_ind] = 0;
ind--;
}
else {
bin[arr_ind] = 1;
ind--;
}
arr_ind++;
}
return bin;
}
int main() {// main function
int dec_N;
cin >> dec_N;
int* bin_main = unsigned_dec(dec_N); //we are not sure if we are assigning the returned value of function to array in correct
for (int i = 0; i <= 7; i++) {
cout << bin_main[i];
}
cout << endl;
return 0;
}
then I tried to change the cout code to
cout << bin_main[0] << bin_main[1] << bin_main[2] << bin_main[3] << bin_main[4] << bin_main[5] << bin_main[6] << bin_main[7] << endl;
And this worked fine.
Then I wrote the same 2nd variant of cout in other way
cout << bin_main[0];
cout << bin_main[1];
cout << bin_main[2];
cout << bin_main[3];
cout << bin_main[4];
cout << bin_main[5];
cout << bin_main[6];
cout << bin_main[7];
cout << endl;
and my code started to cout the same strange number. I think that all 3 ways of couts are almost the same (especially 2 and 3), but don't understand what makes it not to work.
int bin[8] = { 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 };
is allocated on stack. You should either allocate bin on heap
auto bin = std::unique_ptr<int, std::default_deleter<int[]>>(new int[8]);
or even better, use std::vector
you are returning pointer to local array of intbin[] in unsigned_dec. This array on stack of function unsigned_dec will get invalidated once another function from main gets called i.e cout operator .
As others have already mentioned: A function should never return a pointer to a local variable. Local variable is not valid when the function returns.
A better way is to use a vector and just make the function return the vector.
Something like:
#include <iostream>
#include <math.h>
using namespace std;
//function for converting absolute part of numbers
vector<int> unsigned_dec(int dec_M) {
vector<int> bin; // Create a vector
bin.resize(8, 0); // Fill it with 8 elements initialized to zero
int arr_ind = 0;
// Note: added check for arr_ind being valid
for (int base = (int)abs(dec_M); base > 0 && arr_ind < 8; base = base / 2) {
if (base % 2 == 0) {
bin[arr_ind] = 0;
}
else {
bin[arr_ind] = 1;
}
arr_ind++;
}
return bin; // Return the vector
}
int main() {
int dec_N;
cin >> dec_N;
vector<int> bin_main = unsigned_dec(dec_N);
for (int i = 0; i < bin_main.size(); i++) {
cout << bin_main[i];
}
cout << endl;
return 0;
}