[Newbie Programming] How to increase/increment the size of a string variable..

So I want to create step/waterfall type effect using string.

I have managed to draw a single step. However, everytime the program loops I want it to increase the size of the step.

ie:

Code:

---

*
**
***
****

---

Current Code

Code:

---

#include <iostream>#include <string>


using namespace std;




int main()
{


    // A prompting message to user
    cout << "How many steps you wish to draw: ";
    int steps;    // Variable that stores the amount of steps   
    cin >> steps;    // stores users given value


    // The loop runs depending on the user value
    for(int i = 0; i < steps; i++)
    {
        // This is the normal length of a step
        string nstep = "*";
        // Draws the step
        cout << nstep + "*" << endl;   
    }


    int x;
    cin >> x;


    return 0;
}

---

Current code produces:

How many steps you wish to draw?
5

and it draws:

Code:

---

*
*
*
*
*

---

Make a simple flowchart that demonstrates how to accomplish this. It's not harder than that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Swadesh

However, everytime the program loops I want it to increase the size of the step.

---

No, actually you just want to print more stars each time.
I'm just trying to correct your thinking in such a way that it'll correct your code.

If i were you i would think like this.In 1st loop i want one star to be printed.At 2nd loop i want two stars to be printed etc. and based on this i would solve the problem :)

Also if i was in your shoes,i would also check if the user typed a non-negative number.By mistake(or not) if a user types -1 for example the your program will print nothing,but ok steps is good to be a non-negative number.In this code there is no problem,but in other code it might be.

Try using two for loops. The second loops length should depend on the which stage of the first loop you are at.

This Is How I managed To Solve.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>#include <string>


using namespace std;


int main()
{


    // Showing message to user
    cout << "Hey, enter the amount of steps you wish to draw: " ;
    int stepsn;  // Variable that will store the user value
    cin >> stepsn;  // stores the value from user
    cout << "" << endl;


    // Default step size, is simply empty
    string steps = "";


    // A loop that runs depending on user input
    for(int i=0 ; i < stepsn ; i++)
    {
        // Takes the last size of variable steps and stores that info into new variable called stepz
        string stepsz(steps.size(), '*');


        // Here, it combines last step size, plus an additional * is added and applies to the original steps variable
        steps = stepsz + "*";


        // Finally drawn on screen everytime loop runs
        cout << steps << endl;
    }


    // This code is just to stop the program from closing ..
    int x;
    cin >> x;


    return 0;
}

---

It is good practice to write int main(void) instead of int main().

Also at line 15,i think that you want to do is just switching to new line.This can be done by cout<<endl; I mean the "" was not necessary.

And last but not least,it feels good solving the problem ,isn't it? :D ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by std10093

It is good practice to write int main(void) instead of int main().

---

No, it is not. In C++, they are the same, with the former looking uglier.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elysia

No, it is not. In C++, they are the same, with the former looking uglier.

---

Oh yes,i am have the c style in mind always .Thanks for correcting me :)