array of character pointers

Am new to c++, and am having some problems in initilizing arrays that hold strings during the program.
I want to write a program that requests 5 names from the user
and then stores it in an array of character pointers.
Example:

int main()
{
clrscr();
char *names[5];
int ctr;


for(ctr=0; ctr<5; ctr++)
{
cout<<"\nWhat is the next name " ;
cin>>*(names+ctr);

}


for(ctr=0; ctr<5; ctr++)
{
cout<<"Names:\n\n ";
cout<<*(names+ctr) <<"\n";
}

return 0;
}

When a try to run this it just shows garbage . Can anyone give me a hint of where i went wrong.
Thanks in advance.

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>

int main() {
char *names[5];

for (int ctr = 0; ctr < 5; ctr++) {
cout << "Next Name: ";
names[ctr] = (char *)malloc(32);
cin >> names[ctr];
}

for (int ctr = 0; ctr < 5; ctr++)
cout << "Names: " << names[ctr] << endl;

free(*names);
return 0;
}

Thanks for your help chris it works fine :)
if it is possible to explain to me briefly this line


QUOTE:
names[ctr]=(char *) malloc (32);

Why is it neseerary ? the malloc (32) i mean and what does 32 mean? if it was malloc (22) what would be the difference?

Again Thanks for your help.

PLEASE LOOK AT THE COMMENT THAT I MADE

Quote:

---

Originally posted by RedRum
I want to write a program that requests 5 names from the user
and then stores it in an array of character pointers.
Example:

Code:

---

int main()
{
    clrscr();
    char *names[5];
    int ctr;
   
    for(ctr=0; ctr<5; ctr++){
    cout<<"\nWhat is the next name " ;
    cin>>*(names+ctr); // YOU CAN'T DO THIS
    }


    for(ctr=0; ctr<5; ctr++){
    cout<<"Names:\n\n ";
    cout<<*(names+ctr) <<"\n"; // YOU CAN'T DO THIS TOO
    }

      return 0;
}

---

When a try to run this it just shows garbage . Can anyone give me a hint of where i went wrong.

---

As you are new in C++ ... try first to arrang your code...
You just remind me in the way that I start...
LQQK at the code that Chris wrote you .. and then try to solve it in another way.. this way you will learn more....

Thanks for taking the time to look over my code and comment on it NANO. Am working on it now .

BTW RedRum (char *)malloc(32) makes it so that the name inputted by the user can be up to 32 bytes. Making it malloc(22) would allocate 22 bytes.

Note also that the kosher C++ syntax for that is actually

" names[ctr] = new char[32]; "