Thread: passing a reference to an array?

I won't post all my code, as it is repetetive and long, but here is the class definition my question concerns:

Code:

class cellField
{
  public:
  void generateField(char[10][10]); // randomly generates the starting field
  void generateField();
  void advanceTime();   // advances the time and applies cell rules
  void advanceTime(char [10][10]);
  void displayField(char[10][10]);
  void displayField();

  private:
  char fieldArray[10][10];
  char tempField[10][10];
};

The program creates a 10x10 grid of X's, O's, and I's, and displays them. Then it is supposed to advance the "time", and certain rules are supposed to change the "field". (a basic cellular automation system).

I won't explain the whole thing, but generateField and displayField and advanceTime need to accept a reference to a 10x10 character array. But if I put "void advanceTime(char &[10][10];", it says that the function is being implemented twice. But they have different inputs, so why is that happening? Can I not do this, or do I need to do it another way?

Here is the code in case anyone needs to look at it:

http://dydx.no-ip.com:8080/cellauto.cpp

(there may be a couple parts of it that seem "broken", but thats probably just because I stopped while trying to fix it and said "BLAH!" and came here)

And yea, the program is sort of useless, but I like doing little "excercises" like this to give myself practice.

Anyways, help!

Thanks!

An array is a reference. Example...
int myArray [10];

myArray == &myArray[0]

Need to think of arrays and pointers as the same thing since aside from a slight mundane detail they are the same exact thing.

Hmm I did originally try passing them as just arrays, but after the first time I advanced "time", the field kept staying the same.

I think that must have been another problem...

Hmm.. I guess I'm just beeing foolish. When I get a chance I'll have to think the advanceTime function through again.

thanks!

Ok here it is, new and improved (i re-thought my methods - I don't know if its better or not, but it works):

http://dydx.no-ip.com:8080/cellauto2.cpp

Any more tips?

Thanks!