Thread: Dangling Else error?

  1. #1
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    Dangling Else error?

    I'm supposed to be able to describe a 'dangling else' error for a quiz, yet I've never seen this in any of my books, and I'm transferring into this uni so I don't know what others have covered - can someone explain this to me? I assume it has something to do with how you use if and else (duh), but I'm supposed to be able to give an example on this quiz.

  2. #2
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Nerd MMD_Lynx's Avatar
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    i don't know, but my guess would be an else without an if. but don't put that.
    Stupid people are useful. You can make them do all the mindless tasks you are too lazy to do yourself.

    Sphynx cats are just bald and wrinkly, like old people, and we don't reject them.

  3. #3
    Anal comment spacer DominicTrix's Avatar
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    The "Dangling Else":

    Code:
    if(x>y)
          if(x>8)
                 x++;
          else
                 x--;
    The problem here is that the 'else' could apply to either 'if'. So basically the dangling else occurs when using nested if.. else statements without {}'s as the following would have no confusion:

    Code:
    if(x>y)
    {
          if(x>8)
                 x++;
          else
                 x--;
    }
    Hope that make's sense.

    p.s. I didn't know this before now, just Googled +"Dangling else" +"C++"
    "The most important thing about acting is honesty. If you can fake that you've got it made" - George Burns

  4. #4
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    example of a dangling else error:

    Code:
    if( x==1 )
       if ( y>2 )
          cout<< "foo" << endl;
    
    else
        cout<< "bar" << endl;
    also, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Google+Search

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  5. #5
    Anal comment spacer DominicTrix's Avatar
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    lol, beat you to it axon
    "The most important thing about acting is honesty. If you can fake that you've got it made" - George Burns

  6. #6
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    Makes sense. I've never had a problem understanding an If statement though, and usually whenever I do an if / else I make sure I use {} brackets.

  7. #7
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    yeah....damnit, should've dropped the sandwitch and typed with both hands...hehe; but my google search is priceless.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by axon
    yeah....damnit, should've dropped the sandwitch and typed with both hands...hehe; but my google search is priceless.
    I suck with google It always links me to pages asking me if i want to buy a domain. At least when I'm searching for C++ stuff.

  9. #9
    Anal comment spacer DominicTrix's Avatar
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    that's ok, wasn't having a go. When I search for anything C++ related, I always add:

    +"C++"

    filters out a load of irrelevant crap.

    dt
    "The most important thing about acting is honesty. If you can fake that you've got it made" - George Burns

  10. #10
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Nerd MMD_Lynx's Avatar
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    well, i got it wrong.
    when i search i either am too vague and get cruddy stuff. or too specific and get nothing.
    Stupid people are useful. You can make them do all the mindless tasks you are too lazy to do yourself.

    Sphynx cats are just bald and wrinkly, like old people, and we don't reject them.

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