Thread: C++ String Problem

Part 1:
Write a program that reads a person's name in the format: first name, then middle name or initial, and then last name. The program then outputs the name in the format:
Last_Name, First_Name, Middle_Initial.

For example, the input:
Mary Average User

should proguce the output:
User, Mary A.

The input
Mary A. User

should also produce the output:
User, Mary A.

Part 2:
Your program should allow for users who give no middle name or middle initial. In that case, the output, of course, contains no middle name or initial.

For example, the input:
Mary User

should produce the output:
User, Mary

I just know how to do Part 1... and what I wrote is:

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;


int main()
{

  string a,b,c;

  cout<<"Please type in your first name, middle name or initial, and then last name:"<<endl;
  cin >> a >> b >> c;
  cout <<"Your name is:"<<endl<< c <<", " << a <<" " << b[0] <<"." << endl;
return 0;
}

Can anyone help me for Part 2? thanks!!

haven't learned cin and cout yet, but I know the gist of what it does.

Try this. If c was not entered, assume b is c, and reformat the output accordingly.

obviously you need to remove that function (or lines). Just assume that if c does not exist you change b to c and then make b a blank.

Originally posted by Pureghetto
obviously you need to remove that function (or lines). Just assume that if c does not exist you change b to c and then make b a blank.

Oh!! I'm new to C++, so don't know what to do now, but I'll try to do. Thx for ur comment!! If I still have programs with that, I wish that u don't mind me asking u again....

What you should do is get the input as one big string using the function cin.getline();. Then split that bigger string into smaller strings and display the strings.

Originally posted by ArseMan
What you should do is get the input as one big string using the function cin.getline();. Then split that bigger string into smaller strings and display the strings.

Thx!! However, I have no idea what cin.getline(); is... How can I put them into a big string and split it into some pieces?? Can u tell me how to do? thx!!~

cin.getline(char * buffer, int maxCharToReadIn, char terminatingChar)

terminating char defaults to newline which is probably what you want.

count number of spaces in buffer
if spaces is 3 then you have 3 parts to name
if spaces is 2 then you have 2 parts to name
declare an array of 3 strings and assign empty strings to them

parse buffer by:
option 1 : use strtok() with space as delimiter or similar function for STL strings
option 2 : read buffer char by char. assign chars in buffer to first string. When space found place null terminator in first string and bring up second string. repeat until all char read in
option 3 : wait for some one else to answer.