C++ simple class declaration program - c++

Question

I got a program to create in C++ in our introduction to C++ class in school. I am doing everything as I got in examples, but still getting errors.
w4x.cpp was given and I have to create Molecule.h and Molecule.cpp. I did that, but I am getting errors because my variables were not declared in scope, but I can't understand why.
// w4x.cpp
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#include "w4x.h"
#include "Molecule.h"
int main() {
int n = MAX_MOLECULES;
Molecule molecule[MAX_MOLECULES];
cout << "Molecular Information\n";
cout << "=====================" << endl;
for (int i = 0; i < MAX_MOLECULES; i++) {
if (!molecule[i].read()) {
n = i;
i = MAX_MOLECULES;
}
cout << endl;
}
cout << "Structure Name Mass\n";
cout << "==================================================" << endl;
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
molecule[i].display();
}
//Molecule.h
const int MAX_STRUCT = 10;
const int MAX_NAME = 20;
class Molecule {
char name[MAX_STRUCT];
char rate[MAX_NAME];
double weight;
public:
Molecule();
void read(const char*, const char*, double);
void display() const;
~Molecule();
};
//Molecule.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <cstring>
using namespace std;
#include "Molecule.h"
Molecule::Molecule(){
name[0]= '\0';
rate[0]= '\0';
weight = 0;
}
void::read(const char* n, const char* r, double w) {
weight = w;
strncpy (name, n, MAX_STRUCT);
name[MAX_STRUCT]='\0';
strncpy (rate, r, MAX_NAME);
rate[MAX_NAME]='\0';
cout << "Enter structure : ";
cin.getline (n, MAX_CHARS);
cout << "Enter full name : ";
cin.getline (r, MAX_NAME);
cout << "Enter weight : ";
cin >> w;
}
void::display() const
{
int x;
for ( x=0; x<i; x++)
cout << n << " " << r << " " << w << endl;
}
My first question is, how can I pass char name[MAX_STRUCT]; char rate[MAX_NAME]; double weight; from Molecule.h to Molecule.cpp

Answer 1

The problem with your definitions is here:
void::read(const char* n, const char* r, double w)
and here
void::display() const
What :: says here, is that you are implementing a function within a class. So you need to specify which class and which function! What you are telling it now, is that you are implementing a function inside class void, which is nonexistent.
You should convert them to:
void Molecule::read(const char* n, const char* r, double w)
void Molecule::display() const
Your other question regarding passing class members:
The functions of a class have access to its variables, therefore, you don't need to concern yourself with that. Just use the variables.
Also, if you notice in your w4x.cpp, the function Molecule::read() is called without parameters, so your TAs ask you to implement it without parameters. Indeed, since you have access to Molecule::name, Molecule::rate and Molecule::weight directly, you should read data and write to those variables instead of asking for parameters. Therefore, your read function would look like this:
void Molecule::read()
{
// read into name, rate and weight
}
Furthermore, w4x.cpp expects read to report whether it has been successful or not. This means that you should do error checking in Molecule::read and return 0 if no errors or -1 (for example) in case of errors.