does it mater if there are indents before some code?

im just wondering if you have to put indents, and im also wondering if you have to put a space between each line. lets take the hello world program on your site. does it need the spaces between the lines and indents?

Code:

#include <iostream.h>

int main()

{

  cout<<"HEY, you, I'm alive!  Oh, and Hello World!";

  return 0;    

}

or does it not need them? like so:

Code:

#include <iostream.h>
int main()
{
cout<<"HEY, you, I'm alive!  Oh, and Hello World!";
return 0;    
}

???

To the compiler, it doesn't matter how many tabs or new lines you use; or don't use, but it's preferred you use some method of indentation (it makes the code MUCH easier to read) and spacing. The more whitespace you use the clearer your code can be read by you and others. (Within reason, don't go crazy)

It doesn't effect the size of your final executable; so don't be afraid to space things out. This is perfectly legal:

Code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;int main(int argc,char *argv[]){int myint, yourint=0;cout<<myint+yourint<<endl;return 0;};

oh ok, thats what i thought. thanks.

YES! for the code you wrote right there it doesn't matter much, but it's the same argument with as code tage, try reading this without indents:

Code:

main()
{
...
if (!infile) {cout << "ERROR" << endl << endl; return 1;}
	
for (i=0; (!infile.eof()) && (i <= 12); i++)
{
j=0;
ch = infile.get();
while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
{
dummybuffer[j++] = ch;
//cout << ch << '\t' << j << '\t' << dummybuffer[j] << endl;
ch = infile.get();
}
dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
stock[i].SetName(dummybuffer);	//sets the name of the item
		
j=0;
ch = infile.get();
while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
{
dummybuffer[j++] = ch;
ch = infile.get();
}
dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
stock[i].ChangeQuan(atoi(dummybuffer));	//changes how many of the item
		
j=0;
ch = infile.get();
while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
{
dummybuffer[j++] = ch;	
ch = infile.get();
}
dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
stock[i].ChangeValue(atof(dummybuffer));
}
infile.close();			// end of outputting to structure

for (i=0; i<12; i++)	// this for loop outputs everything
{
cout << stock[i].name << "," << stock[i].GetQuan() << "," << stock[i].GetSValue() << "," << stock[i].GetValue() << endl;
}
return 0;
}

not fun!


Now with:

Code:

main()
{
	...
	if (!infile) {cout << "ERROR" << endl << endl; return 1;}
	
	for (i=0; (!infile.eof()) && (i <= 12); i++)
	{
		j=0;
		ch = infile.get();
		while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
		{
			dummybuffer[j++] = ch;
			//cout << ch << '\t' << j << '\t' << dummybuffer[j] << endl;
			ch = infile.get();
		}
		dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
		stock[i].SetName(dummybuffer);	//sets the name of the item
		
		j=0;
		ch = infile.get();
		while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
		{
			dummybuffer[j++] = ch;
			ch = infile.get();
		}
		dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
		stock[i].ChangeQuan(atoi(dummybuffer));	//changes how many of the item
		
		j=0;
		ch = infile.get();
		while ( (ch != ',') && (!infile.eof()) )
		{
			dummybuffer[j++] = ch;	
			ch = infile.get();
		}
		dummybuffer[j] = '\0';  //string terminator
		stock[i].ChangeValue(atof(dummybuffer));

	}

	infile.close();			// end of outputting to structure

	for (i=0; i<12; i++)	// this for loop outputs everything
	{
		cout << stock[i].name << "," << stock[i].GetQuan() << "," << stock[i].GetSValue() << "," << stock[i].GetValue() << endl;
	}
	return 0;
}

Seeing where loops and if statements ebgin and end is a real pain without.