3d array of cubes?

[porstart]

Is this possible?

What I want to do is have a large cube composed of 27 smaller cubes (3 x 3 x 3, the same as a Rubik's cube). I want the cube to be fixed, so logically we would only see it from one angle (so we only need to be concerned with 3 sides of the cube). I want to have a string be on each showing face of the smaller cubes.

Essentially the question I'm interested in is: can I have a 3d array of cubes? And by cubes, I mean actual cubes which have 6 faces.

Thanks

[tabstop]

It is certainly possible to physically construct the same. You can model it however you want.

If you just want a static image, then some sort of image editor is probably what you want. Even if you want things that move, you probably want modeling software unless you are planning to tie it into a C project.

[Adak]

One of the beautiful things about programming, is that the computer becomes your universe. If you can imagine it, and define it in some concrete way, (and have the system resources of course), then you can do it. (may be some exceptions to this, but I can't think of any atm).

3D arrays are no problem: myArray[1D][2D][3D]. Which I visualize as rows, columns, and which sheet of paper from the stack of papers - for you, it would be different, I'm sure.

I have run across a program that creates hundreds of dimensions to try and solve a sudoku program, etc., so it's very possible. Be aware that 3D arrays can eat up a good deal of memory, so you do have to watch that, but your needs should be small, anyway.

Enjoy!

[nimitzhunter]

cube of cube, something like this would do:

 
typedef int small_cube[3][3][3];
small_cube large_cube[3][3][3];

[porstart]

@tabstop

I actually don't want graphics (I should of stated that), at least not yet. I just want to have the logical representation in my code. The goal is to be able to put the strings together to form words.

@nimitzhunter

That sounds pretty good, I'll give it a try

One of the beautiful things about programming, is that the computer becomes your universe. If you can imagine it, and define it in some concrete way, (and have the system resources of course), then you can do it. (may be some exceptions to this, but I can't think of any atm).

3D arrays are no problem: myArray[1D][2D][3D]. Which I visualize as rows, columns, and which sheet of paper from the stack of papers - for you, it would be different, I'm sure.

I have run across a program that creates hundreds of dimensions to try and solve a sudoku program, etc., so it's very possible. Be aware that 3D arrays can eat up a good deal of memory, so you do have to watch that, but your needs should be small, anyway.

Enjoy!

Thanks!

[porstart]

cube of cube, something like this would do:

 
typedef int small_cube[3][3][3];
small_cube large_cube[3][3][3];

How would I assign values into large_cube[3][3][3]?

[grumpy]

You wouldn't. Array indexes in C go from zero to the dimension - 1.

However, for valid indices you might do;

large_cube a_big_one;
small_cube a_small_one;

/*   place a value into one of the elements of a_small_one  */

a_small_one[2][2][2] = 42;

a_big_one[1][1][1]  = a_small_one;  /*  note this copies the elements of a_small_one into a_big_one[1][1][1]  */

a_big_one[1][1][1][2][2][2]  = 42;   /*   This sets the same element to 42 as would be set by the previous assignment  */