Silly question but..

I am working on my final homework assignment, and I have just started.

All I want to do is initalize the array of pointers in a function with values. I declared it correctly but according to the compiler im not allowed to initalize it in an independant function?

The way around it is to declare the array and initalize it, but then I would have to take it out of the class member list and I do not want to do that, somthing like:

Code:

---

*pFilmList[  5 ] = { "", "", "", "", "" };

---

As you know, the above would work as an altenative. But I dont understand what is wrong with the way I have done it below? I have posted the errors messages below.

Code:

---

class Cinema
{
public:
        Cinema();
        ~Cinema();

        static const int MAX_ROWS = 20;
        static const int MAX_COLS = 20;
        static const int MAX_FILM = 5;

        void initSeating ( char[][ 20 ] );
        void initFilms ( char*[] );

private:
        char m_Seating[ MAX_ROWS ][ MAX_COLS ];
        char *pm_Films[ MAX_FILM ];
};

Cinema::Cinema()
{
        initSeating ( m_Seating );
        initFilms ( pm_Films );
}

Cinema::~Cinema()
{
}

// function
void Cinema::initSeating ( char seats[][ 20 ] )
{
        for ( int i = 0; i < 20; i++ )
        {
                for ( int j = 0; j < 20; j++ )
                        seats[ i ][ j ] = 0;
        }
}

// FUNCTION WITH ERRORS
void Cinema::initFilms ( char *pFilms[] )
{
        *pFilms[ MAX_FILM ] = { "sdds", "ddsd", "sdsd", "Wdeds", "sdsd" };
}

---

Errors:

Quote:

---

exercises\11 cinema system\11 cinema system\main.cpp(65) : error C2059: syntax error : '{
exercises\11 cinema system\11 cinema system\main.cpp(65) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '}'

---

You cannot use initialization lists for anything but initializers.
You'll just have to do this:

Code:

---

pm_Films[0] = ...;
pm_Films[1] = ...;

---

And don't assign string literals to non-const char pointers. For heaven's sake, you've been a member for nearly three years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CornedBee

You cannot use initialization lists for anything but initializers.
You'll just have to do this:

Code:

---

pm_Films[0] = ...;
pm_Films[1] = ...;

---

And don't assign string literals to non-const char pointers. For heaven's sake, you've been a member for nearly three years.

---

Thanks. And sorry, I didnt mean to upset you, il remember your advice, I should of known better about the const char issue. I take full responsibility for such a dangerous error.

I detect a hint of sarcasm ;) I don't think she is upset though, its just a mistake one theoretically would not make if they did a forum search before asking.

Really quick though, compile this:
Erroneous Example

Code:

---

#include <cstring>
#include <iostream>

char *global = "hello world";

int main(void)
{
    strcpy(global, "Look at me! I am breaking my own program. Writing code like this makes windows what it is today!");

    std::cout << global << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

---

You can see the implications of the code without running it. Don't think CornedBee is being a stickler, she isn't. One needs to remember, non-new programmers tend to use a lot of libraries to save us the time and money of writing code. The implication of libraries is that we may not read every line of the library's code, thus it may not be our code making such an obvious mistake.

Most compilers try to give you the heads up about these things. That is why.