How to use a dynamically sized array of structs? - c++

Question

I have to make my homework. It is console application which uses an array of structs that keep information about a computer(brand, year of manufactoring, weight and inventory number). So I wrote a completely working program, but I want to use a dynamic array, because I dont know how many records the user will input.
Is there way to do this. To add new records in array until the user say n/N? Any suggestions?
This is my version of program:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
struct ComputerInfo
{
char computerMark[20], invertarNumber[6];
unsigned int year;
float weight;
};
ComputerInfo computerArray[300];
ComputerInfo AddComputers(ComputerInfo compterArray[], int counter)
{
cout << "Enter mark of the computer: ";
cin >> computerArray[counter].computerMark;
cout << "Enter year of establish: ";
cin>> computerArray[counter].year;
while ((computerArray[counter].year < 1973)
|| (computerArray[counter].year > 2013))
{
cout << "INVALID YEAR!!!" << endl;
cout << "Enter year of establish: ";
cin>> computerArray[counter].year;
}
cout << "Enter computer weidth: ";
cin >> computerArray[counter].weight;
cout << "Enter computer invertar number(up to six digits): ";
cin >> computerArray[counter].invertarNumber;
return computerArray[counter];
}
void ShowRecords()
{
int counter = 0;
while (computerArray[counter].year != 0)
{
cout << "Mark: " << computerArray[counter].computerMark << endl;
cout << "Year: " << computerArray[counter].year << endl;
cout << "Weidth: " << computerArray[counter].weight << endl;
cout << "Inv. number: " << computerArray[counter].invertarNumber << endl << endl;
counter++;
}
}
void MoreThanTenYearsOld(ComputerInfo computerArray[])
{
int counter = 0;
float counterOldComputers = 0;
float computerPer = 0;
while (computerArray[counter].year == 0)
{
if (computerArray[counter].year <= 2003)
{
counterOldComputers++;
}
counter++;
}
computerPer = counterOldComputers / 3;
cout << endl;
cout << "Percantage of old computers is: " << computerPer << endl;
}
int main()
{
int counter = 0;
float computerPer = 0;
char answer = 'y';
for (int i = 0; i <= 299; i++)
{
strcpy(computerArray[i].computerMark,"");
}
while((answer == 'Y') || (answer == 'y'))
{
computerArray[counter] = AddComputers(computerArray, counter);
cout << endl;
cout << "Do you want to enter more records (Y/N): ";
cin >> answer;
cout << endl;
counter++;
}
MoreThanTenYearsOld(computerArray);
return 0;
}

Answer 1

Yes. Instead of your array, use
std::vector<ComputerInfo> computerArray;
and you can add as many objects as you want:
ComputerInfo c;
// read the data
computerArray.push_back(c);
now, computerArray[0] will have the info in c.
You'll need to #include <vector>.
Also, instead of char computerMark[20] you can use a std::string.

Answer 2

You have two options:
1) Use std::vector instead of an array. This is a very powerful tool and certainly worth learning how to use.
2) Dynamically allocate the array and resize it as you add more items. Basically this means writing your own version of std::vector. This is a good way to strengthen your programming skills. You will learn what goes into writing standard classes and functions. However, I advise using std::vector in more serious programming because it has already been thoroughly tested and debugged.