BFS maze help c++ - c++

Question

I am attempting to make a maze-solver using a Breadth-first search, and mark the shortest path using a character '*'
The maze is actually just a bunch of text. The maze consists of an n x n grid, consisting of "#" symbols that are walls, and periods "." representing the walkable area/paths. An 'S' denotes start, 'F' is finish. Right now, this function does not seem to be finding the solution (it thinks it has the solution even when one is impossible). I am checking the four neighbors, and if they are 'unfound' (-1) they are added to the queue to be processed.
The maze works on several mazes, but not on this one:
...###.#....
##.#...####.
...#.#.#....
#.####.####.
#F..#..#.##.
###.#....#S.
#.#.####.##.
....#.#...#.
.####.#.#.#.
........#...
What could be missing in my logic?
int mazeSolver(char *maze, int rows, int cols)
{
int start = 0;
int finish = 0;
for (int i=0;i<rows*cols;i++) {
if (maze[i] == 'S') { start=i; }
if (maze[i] == 'F') { finish=i; }
}
if (finish==0 || start==0) { return -1; }
char* bfsq;
bfsq = new char[rows*cols]; //initialize queue array
int head = 0;
int tail = 0;
bool solved = false;
char* prd;
prd = new char[rows*cols]; //initialize predecessor array
for (int i=0;i<rows*cols;i++) {
prd[i] = -1;
}
prd[start] = -2; //set the start location
bfsq[tail] = start;
tail++;
int delta[] = {-cols,-1,cols,+1}; // North, West, South, East neighbors
while(tail>head) {
int front = bfsq[head];
head++;
for (int i=0; i<4; i++) {
int neighbor = front+delta[i];
if (neighbor/cols < 0 || neighbor/cols >= rows || neighbor%cols < 0 || neighbor%cols >= cols) {
continue;
}
if (prd[neighbor] == -1 && maze[neighbor]!='#') {
prd[neighbor] = front;
bfsq[tail] = neighbor;
tail++;
if (maze[neighbor] == 'F') { solved = true; }
}
}
}
if (solved == true) {
int previous = finish;
while (previous != start) {
maze[previous] = '*';
previous = prd[previous];
}
maze[finish] = 'F';
return 1;
}
else { return 0; }
delete [] prd;
delete [] bfsq;
}

Answer 1

Iterating through neighbours can be significantly simplified(I know this is somewhat similar to what kobra suggests but it can be improved further). I use a moves array defining the x and y delta of the given move like so:
int moves[4][2] = {{0,1},{1,0},{0,-1},{-1,0}};
Please note that not only tis lists all the possible moves from a given cell but it also lists them in clockwise direction which is useful for some problems.
Now to traverse the array I use a std::queue<pair<int,int> > This way the current position is defined by the pair of coordinates corresponding to it. Here is how I cycle through the neighbours of a gien cell c:
pair<int,int> c;
for (int l = 0;l < 4/*size of moves*/;++l){
int ti = c.first + moves[l][0];
int tj = c.second + moves[l][1];
if (ti < 0 || ti >= n || tj < 0 || tj >= m) {
// This move goes out of the field
continue;
}
// Do something.
}
I know this code is not really related to your code, but as I am teaching this kind of problems trust me a lot of students were really thankful when I showed them this approach.
Now back to your question - you need to start from the end position and use prd array to find its parent, then find its parent's parent and so on until you reach a cell with negative parent. What you do instead considers all the visited cells and some of them are not on the shortest path from S to F.
You can break once you set solved = true this will optimize the algorithm a bit.
I personally think you always find a solution because you have no checks for falling off the field. (the if (ti < 0 || ti >= n || tj < 0 || tj >= m) bit in my code).
Hope this helps you and gives you some tips how to improve your coding.

Answer 2

A few comments:
You can use queue container in c++, its much more easier in use
In this task you can write something like that:
int delta[] = {-1, cols, 1 -cols};
And then you simple can iterate through all four sides, you shouldn't copy-paste the same code.
You will have problems with boundaries of your array. Because you are not checking it.
When you have founded finish you should break from cycle
And in last cycle you have an error. It will print * in all cells in which you have been (not only in the optimal way). It should look:
while (finish != start)
{
maze[finish] = '*';
finish = prd[finish];
}
maze[start] = '*';
And of course this cycle should in the last if, because you don't know at that moment have you reach end or not
PS And its better to clear memory which you have allocate in function