illegal vector index and checking bounds

I need to check that on a game board (10X10 matrix) the user can't enter in values that are out of the matrix. Right now it only works if the placement of some number of the same character is horizontal. I had to set some specific values to check with my crappy debugger and it returns false (as it should) but when its vertical it gives me a illegal vector index error instead of asking for a new set of coordinates.

this is the specific part with the problem--trimmed down some.

Code:

void PlaceChallengerShips  (apmatrix <char> &defenBoard)
{
	const int CARRIER = 5, BATTLESHIP = 4, SUBMARINE = 3, CRUISER = 3, DESTROYER = 2;
	char alignment, rowLetter;
	int column, numRow ;
	bool valid = false;
	//clrscr();
	
	cout<<"From the start of each ship enter the ROW letter,\nthe "
		<<"COLUMN number, and a choice of <H>orizontal or <V>ertical Placement\n";
	cout<<endl;
	cout<<"Hit ENTER to continue\n";
//	cin.get();	
	do
	{
	  cout << "SHIP : Aircraft Carrier  "<<endl;
	
	  rowLetter='A'; column=11; alignment='V';
	 
	  numRow = int(rowLetter) - 65; //Adjust uppercase Letter to row number
	  column = column - 1;			  //Adjust column to Matrix Index
	  valid = ValidPlacement (defenBoard, numRow, column, CARRIER, alignment );
			
	 } while (!valid);

and this is corresponding error producing part of ValidPlacement

bool ValidPlacement ( const apmatrix <char> &grid, int numRow, int column, int ship, char alignment)
{
	bool valid = true;
	
//Row Check
	if (numRow > 9)
	{
		valid = false;
		cout<<"Illegal move. Enter a row letter from A-J\n";
	}

//Column Check
	if (column > 9)
	{
		valid = false;
		cout<<"Illegal move. Enter a column from 1-10\n";
	}

Anything obviously wrong there?

Force it:

row = input % 10;
row = row < 0 ? -row : row;

Quzah.

i dont think you've given enough information mate...

where abouts is the case different for V and H??? you haven't really show it in there.

U.

thats thing, it really shouldn't be any different from V or H. If either is greater than 9, it shouldn't be allowed as imput. ie: returns false and continue through the do while loop. When I went through the debugger, it says its returning false for the imput values A 11 V or 0 10 V when it gets to ValidPlacement but I get that illegal vector index, and only when its vertical.

If you'd like I can post the entirety of both functions.

the only difference between V and H is how it prints out

code here...this is the continuation of the first function

Code:

if ('V' == alignment)
		for (int position = numRow; position < numRow + CARRIER; position++)
			defenBoard [position] [column] = 'A';
	  else
		for (int position = column; position < column + CARRIER; position++)
			defenBoard [numRow] [position] = 'A';

any chance of posting the entire project?? i'm really keen to see what you are getting at. zip up the project and post to the site.

okay...I'm including the bit I was trying to debug before and a final copy of what I've done so far but the latter is kind of sloppy and has other errors as well. The project isn't anything special though, it's just battleship.

http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/tempspace/battle.zip