Some Trouble - Switching with strings.

Hi folks,

I am trying to create a C++ program that will operate a switch statement. I have since found out that I cannot switch with strings as i need to. Each case in the switch will be designed to set a string variable.

Is there any way to achieve what I am suggesting. I have heard about maps, but i think that they are too complex for the simple task that i am trying to program.

Regards and thanks in advance,
mintsmike

Maybe try doing string comparisons, like...

Code:

string stuff1 = "meh";
int sw_case = 0;

if(stuff1 == "meh") sw_case = 0;
else if(stuff1 == "blah") sw_case = 1;

switch(sw_case){
     case 0:
     break;

     case 1:
     break;
}

Just a quick example of what I'm thinking, I typed it up in the reply window so its obviously not perfect.

A map could be more appropriate and not too complicated.

A major difference is that unlike a switch or an if chain, the map's data won't need to be hard-coded.

In the old days I've used something like this:

Code:

p = codestring.find( entry ) / 5;

switch( p )
   {
     ...
   }

This assumes that codestring is a series of 5 character or less codes, like:

Code:

codestring = "one  two  three four";

Obviously this pseudo code doesn't account for a non-match. For short lists (say 20 or less) it's not much slower than a map.

It is a naive approach. There is the potential for an odd match. If a key happens to be a subword of another key, for example, it can fail without additional effort.

Can you direct me to some resource that teaches how to use maps in this way.

Regards

I don't see why you'd want to do it... It doesn't really make sense to me. Are you just trying to see if the guy enters something? Either way, this might work.

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>

int main( void ) {
  std::string searchStr;
  std::vector<std::string> inputOptions;
  std::vector<std::string>::iterator::difference_type pos;
  inputOptions.push_back( "one" );
  inputOptions.push_back( "two" );
  // etc

  std::cout<< "What do you want to switch: ";
  std::cin >> searchStr;

  pos = std::find(inputOptions.begin(),inputOptions.end(),searchStr) - inputOptions.begin();
  switch ( pos ) {
    case 0:
      std::cout<< "First position\n";
      break;

    case 1:
      std::cout<< "Second position\n";
      break;

    default:
      std::cout<< "Not found\n";
      break;
  }

  return 0;
}