Thread: Adding to a variable name

Hey,

Is it possible to add a character to the end of a variable name?

I have a set of shapes on my form. The shapes are named Shape1 through to Shape11. The object is to get the shapes moving using a function that adjusts the Left attribute of each shape. Instead of writing out a line of code for each shape, I am using a loop to send the number of each shape to a function. The function then needs to put the number onto the end of the word Shape to form ShapeNumber (i.e. Shape1, or Shape2 etc). I've heard its possible but being relativly new to C++ I can't figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help, but how do I go about creating an array of shapes?

shape myShapes[11]; brings up an undefined symbol 'shape' error.

Make sure that shape has been defined properly. Post your code.

Ok, just trying it on a brand new form:

Code:

#include <vcl.h>
#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#pragma package(smart_init)
#pragma resource "*.dfm"
TForm1 *Form1;
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)
        : TForm(Owner)
{
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)
{
 shape myShapes[11];
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post Unit1.h as well. No where in this code do you define shape.

Ok,

Code:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#ifndef Unit1H
#define Unit1H
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#include <Classes.hpp>
#include <Controls.hpp>
#include <StdCtrls.hpp>
#include <Forms.hpp>
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
class TForm1 : public TForm
{
__published:	// IDE-managed Components
private:	// User declarations
public:		// User declarations
        __fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);
};
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#endif

Do you have any other files that you're not posting? Where do you define shape?

I have no other files.. I'm confused as to where and how i define and then declare the shape/s.

The simplest way is to just define a shape class in your main file.

ok, so I have defined a shape class in my unit1.h file and put shape myShapes[11]; in my unit1.cpp file.

How do I relate the shape array to shapes on my form?

The same way you relate a string of characters to text you send to the screen. Would you care to be more specific?

Well i have a set of shapes on my form called Shape1 through to Shape11. How do I relate those shapes to positions in the myShapes array?

so myShapes[1] would refer to Shape1..