Thread: use of WHILE loop to read the grades

Originally Posted by jackson6612

What is that bold thing? I understand it's a function call with argument "0".

It is the direct initialisation of RN with 0.

Originally Posted by jimblumberg

While not wrong having these extra braces can lead to subtle bugs. These braces denote a block. Anything created inside this block will be destroyed when you exit the block.

Thanks a lot, Jim. I'm having little difficulty in interpreting the bold part. Are you saying that when I enclose both the if statement and the if block within the braces, then when I get out of the the braces, any data created will be go away? As you see I'm confused, please help me.

Originally Posted by jimblumberg

Now I do recommend that new programmers use braces on each and every control statement whether or not they are needed. Now to add braces to your if statement they should look like:

Code:

if ( RN >= 10000 )
{
   break;
}
/// OR
if ( RN >= 10000 ){
   break;
}

Okay. I understand it now that the proper way to use the braces for the block of if statement is not to include the if statement within the braces itself.

You used the word "control statement". I was understand the impression that the if statement is decision statement and the statements such as "while (. . .)" are condition statements. Is the word "control statement" used to refer to both decision and condition statements. Please advise me.

I'm very much grateful for all the help and guidance.

Originally Posted by laserlight

It is the direct initialisation of RN with 0.

Hi laserlight

I understand it now. But this format seems confusing and misleading to a novice like me. The things like "RN( )" are called function calls and when put some value within the parentheses it's called argument of the function call. But as we know RN() is not a function call in the present context, at least. So, what do you say on this? Please let me know. Thanks.

Originally Posted by jimblumberg

If the braces belong to the if statement yes. The way you had your braces

Code:

   {
   	  if ( RN >= 10000 )
        break;
      }

With the braces in this position the braces are not part of the if statement. The if statement is contained in the braces. While not wrong having these extra braces can lead to subtle bugs. These braces denote a block. Anything created inside this block will be destroyed when you exit the block.

Now I do recommend that new programmers use braces on each and every control statement whether or not they are needed. Now to add braces to your if statement they should look like:

Code:

if ( RN >= 10000 )
{
   break;
}
/// OR
if ( RN >= 10000 ){
   break;
}

Do you see the difference?

Jim

Originally Posted by jackson6612

Thanks a lot, Jim. I'm having little difficulty in interpreting the bold part. Are you saying that when I enclose both the if statement and the if block within the braces, then when I get out of the the braces, any data created will go away? As you see I'm confused, please help me.

Okay. I understand it now that the proper way to use the braces for the block of if statement is not to include the if statement within the braces itself.

Hi

I think two posts from this thread are gone because of recent problem with the forums.

I'm still struggling to understand what will really happen if I enclose both the if statement and the if block within the braces such as:

Code:

{
if (...)
//statements
}

I understand one can define local variables within the block without making them visible outside the block. Please guide me.