Thread: Need help with a newbie project!

I would suggest you:

• take a loop at loops for repeating stuff when answer is non-satisfactory.
• indent properly.
• read in a string (eg std::string) and compare it to your expected answers; it's clean and easy.
• don't use sleep; it's non-standard.

Code:

cin >> service;
if (service == 'y' || service == 'Y') tiprate = TIP20;
    else if (service == 'n' || service == 'N') tiprate = TIP15;
        else {
            cout << "Please enter a y or n and try again!" << endl;
            return 1;
            }

Would recommend that you use to toupper() on the input variable to obviate the need for multiple comparisons for the two cases.

Also, when you read into a char variable, you are actually taking two characters into the standard input buffer, the character entered and the newline character generated by hitting the enter key. You need to remove that newline character. As a simple (but not wholly correct) solution, try adding a cin.ignore() after you read into your char variable.

EDIT: For more detailed info, see this thread.

I believe that thread tells you how to use cin.ignore() to ignore more than 1 character, if I read it correctly.

istream::ignore - C++ Reference

This also, but if you're too lazy to click on his forum link, you're probably too lazy to click on this one as well :x

Originally Posted by Rodaxoleaux

I believe that thread tells you how to use cin.ignore() to ignore more than 1 character, if I read it correctly.

istream::ignore - C++ Reference

This also, but if you're too lazy to click on his forum link, you're probably too lazy to click on this one as well :x

not sure why you said that??? I did click on those links he posted, but if there was an example to do more stuff then I clearly didn't understand it.....I have only been in this intro c++ course for like 4 weeks. I don't understand a lot of the syntax I see posted in those links, especially the official ones on sites like cplusplus.

I will look again, but like I said, if it contains a lot of syntax I don't understand...it isn't much use to me. I was HOPING someone here would take the time to explain one of the two things I needed. Though if that is too much to ask, then maybe you could redirect me to a forum that would be able to explain these things to me?

I don't want to sound helpless here, but most of the suggestions I have seen thus far (aside from the cin.ignore one) were really above my level. I said in the title I was a newbie, so some kind of context would be nice with these suggestions.

Code:

while (!cin.good())
   {
      cin.clear();
      cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
      cout << "enter anything (choose a number to stop): ";
      cin >> omgnumbers;

For example, I just learned about the loop functions today. Specifically while. A lot of the stuff here is tough for me to understand, and thus would be kind of hard for me to implement.

I have never seen cin.good or cin.bad.

(numic_limits<streamsize>::max(), '/n')

I have zero idea what this is about.

Code:

/* toupper example */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <ctype.h>
int main ()
{
  int i=0;
  char str[]="Test String.\n";
  char c;
  while (str[i])
  {
    c=str[i];
    putchar (toupper(c));
    i++;
  }
  return 0;
}

I have never used putchar before. Not sure what while(str[i]) does/means.

why is i++ there?

Take it slow.
If you've just learnt about loops, you do not need to know the intricate details of how numeric_limits work.
Just know that

Code:

cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');

Ignores (discards) the maximum possible number of characters from the standard input stream until a newline is reached.

If you take a look at what I posted earlier:

Originally Posted by Elysia

• read in a string (eg std::string) and compare it to your expected answers; it's clean and easy.

You will find a solution that's very easy and doesn't involve you having to understand or know how ignore or numeric_limits work at all.
Eg:

Code:

std::string answer;
std::cout << "Your anwer: ";
std::getline(answer, std::cin);
while (answer != "yes" && answer != "no")
{
	std::cout << "\nInvalid answer. Please answer with \"yes\" or \"no\": ";
	std::getline(answer, std::cin);
}

:: references a member of a namespace or the static members of structs and classes.

std is the standard namespace that all standard library stuff lies in.

There is no difference. There is only one cout and it lies in the std namespace.
However, many books and programmers use

using namespace std;

which essentially tells the compiler: if you can't find this symbol in the global namespace (ie no namespace at all), then look in the std namespace.
So when you type cout, the compiler searches for ::cout (global namespace), then std::cout.
I simply like being explicit since the using namespace statements has its disadvantages.

Originally Posted by Elysia

There is no difference. There is only one cout and it lies in the std namespace.

There is only one cout, one std namespace and one language. All other false idol languages will answer to the almighty universal compiler when runtime comes.