dynamic memory question

can anyone tell me why why you have to use something like
"

Code:

---

char ** codes;
 codes = new char*[num_codes];
 for (i = 0; i < num_codes; i++)
        { codes[i] = new char[AMOUNT];        }

---

"
for allocating memory yet

Code:

---

"codes = new char[num_codes][string_length];  "

---

gives you an error like
"cannot convert "`char (*)[6]' to `char**'" in assignment"


the background of this is that we have to write a "set" class to represent a set of codes each code is a 5 character c-string.

If you get the type right, then you can do the latter quite happily

Code:

---

char (*codes)[num_codes];
codes = new char[num_codes][string_length];

---

This is a pointer to an array.

A char** is a pointer to a pointer, and needs to be allocated in a different way.

thanks. that worked