Thread: resizing array pointed to by pointer

  1. #1
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    resizing array pointed to by pointer

    I have a pointer to an array:

    Code:
    T *array = new T[capacity];
    I want to double the array size when the array becomes to small. This is how I'm doing it, but its not working correctly. For some reason it gets rid of the first element:

    Code:
    template<typename T>
    void ArrayStack<T>::doubleArraySize() {
        capacity *= 2;
        T *tempArray = array;
        array = new T[capacity];
        
        for (int i=0; i<=tos; i++) {
            array[i] = tempArray[i];
        }
        array = tempArray;
        delete[] tempArray;
    }
    Can anyone point out what I'm doing wrong?


    When I print it should say:

    3
    2
    1

    instead:

    3
    2
    some address

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    One problem is that you are accessing the original array out of bounds (assuming that tos is the size variable) since the loop condition is i <= tos instead of i < tos. The next problem is that since you assign tempArray to array... the new array is lost, and then on the last line you destroy the original array, so in the end you have no arrays left.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  3. #3
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    Thanks. That makes a lot of sense and not sure how I missed some of it.

    I've been playing with a few things that work, but not sure which is the best. This is what I've had that works, but relies on temporary storage:

    Code:
    template<typename T>
    void ArrayStack<T>::doubleArraySize() {
        capacity *= 2;
        T tempArray[tos+1];
        for (int i=0; i<=tos; i++) {
            tempArray[i] = array[i];
        }
        
        array = new T[capacity];
        for (int i=0; i<=tos; i++) {
            array[i] = tempArray[i];
        }
    }
    -This works, but i'm not sure how I should release the other memory when i reassign the pointer. Also, i'm not sure if this is the ideal way to do what I'm wanting to do.

  4. #4
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    This looks like the syntax to create a variable length array, but variable length arrays do not exist in standard C++:
    Code:
    T tempArray[tos+1];
    Basically, use new[] to create a new array that is twice the current capacity. Copy over the current elements into that new array. Destroy the old array with delete[] and then assign the pointer to the new array to the member pointer.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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