debug error

I am running a simple program dealing with an Animal class. I have the program working (no errors and no warnings); however, when I run the program I get the following error:
------------------------------------------------------------------
debug error

program: D:\temdebug\temp.exe

damage: after normal block (#42) at 0x007E0580

press retry to debug the application
------------------------------------------------------------------

When I press retry instaed of abort, the program terminates from an illegal operation.

------------------------------------------------------------------

When I attempt to debug the error, it opens a file in:

\vc98\crt\src\dbgheap.c

more specifically, it points to a line in the file that states:

(byte *) pbdata(phead))
------------------------------------------------------------------

Can anyone explain what this means and why it happens. I am attaching only the main file (the program has 3 files) because I do not know how to attach all 3.

Thanks for any help that you can provide. I am not a C++ guru, so please explain without getting fancy.

Thanks again,
Alan

Sorry but I can't really help you without knowing what you are doing in Animal.cpp + hpp. Since you end up in dbgheap.c I think you have a pointer error, probably just using a void ptr or dealocating memory twice. That usually what causes those errors. Can point you to the specific error you've done without more info though. But you can always step-debug trough your program until you get to the crash, then you know what line holds the error.

here is the animal.cpp file

Will attach the animal.hpp file on the next post.

If you know how to attach more than one file with just a single post let me know.

Thanks,
Alan

Could not upload the header file because it is an .hpp file and not just a .h file. so here it is:


#ifndef ANIMAL_HPP
#define ANIMAL_HPP

// sets constants
//const int ANIMAL_NAME = 25;
const int ANIMAL_SOUND = 15;
const int AKC_NUMBER = 15;

class Animal
{
private:
int animalAge;
char *animalName;//[ANIMAL_NAME];
char animalSound[ANIMAL_SOUND];
float animalWeight;
int len;
static int numStrings;
public:
Animal(); // default constructor
// defined constructor
Animal(int a, const char *name, const char *sound, double d);
Animal(const char *name); // for type conversions
~Animal(); // deconstructor
void speak();
int getAge();
char* getName();
char* getSound();
double getWeight();

void setAge(int a);
void setName();
void setSound(const char *sound);
void setWeight(double f);
void show() const;
friend ostream& operator << (ostream &left, const Animal &right);

};
#endif

The program crashes as it exits the callme1() function. I am not sure why. A similar example works.
Alan

Your call to callme1() will result in your Animal destructor being called for the first time. I assume this is where your char *animalName gets de-allocated, therefore this is probably where your error is.

That is a logical conclusion, but if that is the problem, what is the solution?

>what is the solution?

Double checking your destructor to make sure it deletes what you think it's deleting. Unless you post your class implementation that's about all I can suggest.

I didn't spot your 2nd upload, see PM.

Code:

>Animal::Animal()
>{

>    animalAge = 0;

>    len = 7;
//Need room for the string terminator.  Should be:
    len = 8;
>	animalName = new char[7];
//Should be:
	animalName = new char[8];
>	strcpy(animalName, "No Name");
	
>    strcpy(animalSound, "No Sound");
>    animalSound[15] = '\0';
//Don't need above line, but if it's there should be:
    animalSound[14] = '\0';

>    animalWeight = 0.0;

>    numStrings++;  // adds 1 to object count
>    cout << numStrings << ": \"" << animalName
>         << "\" default object created\n";
>}
>// 2) Defined Constructor
>Animal::Animal(int a, const char *name, const char *sound, >double d)  
>{
>    animalAge = a;

>    len = strlen(name);
>    animalName = new char[len + 1];
>	strcpy(animalName, name);
	
>    strncpy(animalSound, sound, 15);
>    animalSound[15] = '\0';
//Either change to 14 or use:
    strcpy(animalSound, sound);
//And leave out the next line.

Thanks to all who helped in this little problem. Thanks especially to swoopy, the suggestion to change the length of len (from 7 to 8) to allow for the '\0' worked. The program works fine now. I have also taken the other suggestions and will make appropriate changes.

Thanks again,
Your help is always appreciated

Alan