Very stumped on nested void functions with nexted for / if statements - c++

Question

Ok, I've simplified my problem greatly and it is almost perfect except 1 small nagging problem. The function I couldn't figure out how to work I simply turned into its own cpp file for now.
I cannot for the life of me understand why this thing is running smooth the first time, but every time after that it takes in 2 lines to work..
#include <iostream> // std::cout
#include <iomanip>
#include <cstring>
#include <locale> // std::locale, std::isdigit, std::isalpha
#include <sstream> // std::stringstream
#include <cctype>
#include <string>
#include <limits>
void check_row (int row); // Passes int row (row size) from main
void check_set (int row);
int continue_while_int = 0;
int P_row_value;
int main()
{
int row;
std::cout<<"Enter an int row ";
std::cin >> row;
std::cout << std::endl;
while (continue_while_int == 0)
{
check_set(row);
}
}
void check_set(int row)
{
check_row(row);
}
void check_row (int row) // 1. clear and ignore incase incorrect input is given. 2. Input string. Checks if empty, "exit" or "Exit", valid length, if input
{
int row_copy = row;
std::string row_length_string;
std::string input_length_string;
std::stringstream convert_row; // stringstream used for the conversion
convert_row << row_copy; //add the value of Number to the characters in the stream
row_length_string = convert_row.str(); //set Result to the content of the stream
std::string input_Row;
std::cout << "enter the P_row ";
for (int i = 0; std::cin.clear(),std::cin.ignore(10000,'\n') ; i++) // clears error flags, ignores all input after enter.
{
std::getline(std::cin, input_Row);
// std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
std::string ifempty = input_Row;
std::string input_Row_copy = input_Row; // creates copy of input
std::stringstream ss_convert_input(input_Row_copy); // gives copy to stringstream instance
int input_length = input_Row_copy.length(); // sets an int as input's length // length of input
int row_length = row_length_string.length(); // sets and int as length of row
int input_as_int; // int to hold input if valid numb string
if(ifempty.length() == 0)
{
std::cout << "error : nothing entered " << std::endl;
}
else if (input_Row_copy == "exit" || input_Row_copy == "Exit")
{
std::cout << "Exiting ";
continue_while_int = 1; // Exit check_set loop
break;
}
else if (input_length != row_length) // if larger than row_length digits or less than or equal to 0 digits
{
std::cout << "error : "<< input_Row_copy;
std::cout << " is outside row input length "<< std::endl << std::endl; // restar
}
else if(!(ss_convert_input >> input_as_int)) // restart if unable to convert
{
std::cout << "error : invalid entry of " << input_Row << std::endl<< std::endl;
}
else if (input_length == row_length)
{
if (input_as_int < row && input_as_int >= 0)
{
P_row_value = input_as_int;
std::cout << "Successfully converted string to int. P_row_value = [" << P_row_value << "]" <<"[Column]";
std::cout.width(20);
std::cout << " && Input length is " << input_length << std::endl << std::endl;
}
else
{
std::cout << "error : " << input_Row_copy << " is not within row boundaries" << std::endl;
}
}
else
{
std::cout << " error: unknown exception : " << input_Row << std::endl << std::endl;
}
convert_row.str(std::string() );
convert_row.clear();
// std::cin.ignore(std::cin.rdbuf()->in_avail(),'\n');
}
}
The output
Enter an int row 4
enter the P_row 3
Successfully converted string to int. P_row_value = [3][Column] && Input length is 1
2
2
Successfully converted string to int. P_row_value = [2][Column] && Input length is 1
3
3
Successfully converted string to int. P_row_value = [3][Column] && Input length is 1
1
1
Successfully converted string to int. P_row_value = [1][Column] && Input length is 1
e
e
error : invalid entry of e
r
r
error : invalid entry of r
error : nothing entered