how do i ensure a correct integer input

this may seem a lower grade question, but there maybe a trick

Code:

        int grpNo;

	do
	{
		cout << "\n\nEnter the " << statement << " number of existing groups : ";
		cin >> grpNo;
		statement="valid!...";
		cin.ignore();
	}
	while( !isdigit(grpNo) );

If i enter non integer values, the program throws a DEBUG error because is expecting an integer, so this happens even before i validate .. I changed int grpNo to char grpNo .. but the problem is i'm gonna use grpNo in a for loop as a limiter i.e. for(i=0; i<grpNo;i++)

kinda stuck ?

http://cboard.cprogramming.com/cplusplus-programming/107049-input-validation-kinda.html#post787321

Originally Posted by Daved

http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?p=787321

I hope i wont have to install extra stuff like i did with boost to use <limits> ... Was a bit of pain i wouldn't like to go through to get it to work ...

Originally Posted by csonx_p

I hope i wont have to install extra stuff like i did with boost to use <limits> ... Was a bit of pain i wouldn't like to go through to get it to work ...

You don't need boost for <limits>, and you certainly don't for input validation either.

Originally Posted by iMalc

You don't need boost for <limits>, and you certainly don't for input validation either.

I thought you could also validate inputs using boost library ... integer_traits stuff and max const

Originally Posted by Daved

http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?p=787321

tried using your function below..

Code:

	template<typename charT, typename traits, typename T>
	inline bool basic_input(std::basic_istream<charT,traits>& is, T& x, charT delim)
	{
		std::ios::fmtflags old_flags = is.flags();
		if ((is >> std::noskipws >> x) && (is.eof() || is.get() == delim))
		{
			is.flags(old_flags);
			return true;
		}
		is.flags(old_flags);

		x = T();
		is.clear();
		ignore_line(is, delim);
		return false;
	}

[EDIT] ..... SORRY provided a wrong one, here's a correct one

    template<typename charT, typename traits, typename T>
    inline bool basic_input(std::basic_istream<charT,traits>& is, T& x)
    {
        return basic_input(is, x, is.widen('\n'));
    }
[/EDIT]

If i enter a character value, it returns true shouldn't it be accepting for integers only?

It depends on how you use it. Can you post the code that calls the function?

Originally Posted by Daved

It depends on how you use it. Can you post the code that calls the function?

I forgot to change back char grpNo; to int grpNo; now solved !

May i ask, i have a problem of reading unwanted input .. But if i call cin.ignore() then the program expects me to enter something at least once.. I find this irritating. Is there a way i can ignore stdin without pausing the screen?

Again, an example would really help.

Calling cin.ignore() when there's nothing in the input stream will pause the program until enter is pushed. You have to identify when it needs to be called and only call it at that time. There are ways to make sure it doesn't pause the program when you don't want it to, but it really depends on the situation.

Also, if you're using basic_input.h from the post I linked to then you shouldn't need to call cin.ignore() anywhere.

Originally Posted by Daved

Again, an example would really help.

Calling cin.ignore() when there's nothing in the input stream will pause the program until enter is pushed. You have to identify when it needs to be called and only call it at that time. There are ways to make sure it doesn't pause the program when you don't want it to, but it really depends on the situation.

Also, if you're using basic_input.h from the post I linked to then you shouldn't need to call cin.ignore() anywhere.

can i use basic_input() for enums?

I typically read a string and use boost::lexical_cast to validate (and convert) the input.
It's used directly from the headers, so no "installing" is necessary.
It also avoids having to deal with input buffer problems.

>> can i use basic_input() for enums?

Good question. If you can use cin >> then you can probably use basic_input. I'm not sure if you can use operator>> with enums, though.