Thread: not sure how to say this...

I have a loop going with an array - say array[i] for i=0 to i<10 - with conditions, and if the conditions aren't met at a value in the array, I want to ignore the value. I have array[i-1] in the condition, so my problem is that if a value [i] is ignored in one cycle of the loop, I don't want it to be considered [i-1] in the next cycle. In that case I want [i-1] to refer to the last un-ignored value.
I'm really unsure of how to do this. Can someone set me on the right track? Thanks.

Make a variable previous_value.

Then how do i incorporate it into the loop? I was thinking of something like that, but I couldn't figure out how to define it.

Code:

if (big condition) {
    do stuff
    previous_value = a[i];
}

I suppose you are using a for-loop. Why not use a while-loop. Then you ll be able to have more control on the increase/decrease of i. That should solve your problem...

All right, let me talk through this to see if I getting it...still not sure.
-My main condition is if array[i]>array[i-1]-

So should I start out by making previous_value = array[i-1]?

Then go into the loop... have (condition) do stuff
else previous_value=previous_value-1?

I need it to still work if multiple values in a row are ignored.

But then when the condition is met again, I want previous value to go back to being array[i-1]...so should I put that in with the "do stuff" - that previous_value = array[i-1]? Would that reset it all right?

C_ntua - sorry, I'm not sure what you mean, could you explain a little more? Why would a while loop be better?

Originally Posted by sqytoad

But then when the condition is met again, I want previous value to go back to being array[i-1]...so should I put that in with the "do stuff" - that previous_value = array[i-1]? Would that reset it all right?

This is not consistent with what you said before. Before you said that if the previous value didn't meet the condition, you wanted to ignore it. Now you say that if a[i] meets the condition, you no longer want to ignore a[i-1]. You'll have to pick one. In the original case, you need to set previous_value to a[i] so that the next time through the loop it's the right thing.

Perhaps we should ask this question: What are you trying to do?

What I'm saying is that if a value doesn't meet the condition, I want to ignore it - completely. So that it's not used in the next cycle of the loop.
Let me try and go through this better.
This is what I'm trying to do -
For example, the loop is running, and the condition b[i]>b[i-1] (values of a[i] affect b[i]) is met for a[1], a[2], a[3]. It keeps running through.
The the condition is NOT met for a[4].
It ignores a[4].
Then the next cycle starts, a[i] is a[5].
*What I want to happen in this cycle is for "i-1" to refer to a[3], since that was the last value that met the condition. NOT a[4], as "i-1" actually would. This is my first problem.

Let's say the condition wasn't met on this cycle either. So in the next cycle - a[i]=a[6], I still want "i-1" to refer to a[3].

But this time the condition was met, so when the next cycle starts again, a[i]=a[7], I want "i-1" to refer to what it actually says, a[6].


What I said was any time a[i] meets the condition I don't want it to be ignored on the next cycle as a[i-1]. But any time the condition is not met, it IS ignored. I don't think I was inconsistent. A little confusing, I'll grant you. :P But thus is the problem...

Originally Posted by sqytoad

What I'm saying is that if a value doesn't meet the condition, I want to ignore it - completely. So that it's not used in the next cycle of the loop.
Let me try and go through this better.
This is what I'm trying to do -
For example, the loop is running, and the condition b[i]>b[i-1] (values of a[i] affect b[i]) is met for a[1], a[2], a[3]. It keeps running through.
The the condition is NOT met for a[4].
It ignores a[4].
Then the next cycle starts, a[i] is a[5].
*What I want to happen in this cycle is for "i-1" to refer to a[3], since that was the last value that met the condition. NOT a[4], as "i-1" actually would. This is my first problem.

Let's say the condition wasn't met on this cycle either. So in the next cycle - a[i]=a[6], I still want "i-1" to refer to a[3].

But this time the condition was met, so when the next cycle starts again, a[i]=a[7], I want "i-1" to refer to what it actually says, a[6].


What I said was any time a[i] meets the condition I don't want it to be ignored on the next cycle as a[i-1]. But any time the condition is not met, it IS ignored. I don't think I was inconsistent. A little confusing, I'll grant you. :P But thus is the problem...

So, that's exactly what I typed up above. Since a[1] satisfies the condition, at the bottom of the loop set previous_value to a[1]. Then in the next loop, previous_value is a[1]. If a[2] DIDN'T meet the condition, you WOULDN'T set previous_value, so in the next loop previous_value is still a[1]. What's the problem here?

The problem is I'm still a little confused about how to use what you're saying.
So instead of having my condition be a[i]/a[i-1] I would have a[i]/previous_value?

Right. Since a[i-1] is not the value you want to use, don't use it.

Yeah, I was just using it as a placeholder for while I was working on it. I think I misunderstood what you were saying at first, so I wanted to really make sure I got what you were saying now that I thought I had it. lol
I'm pretty sure I'm okay now. I'll be back if I still have trouble. :S
Thanks a lot!

Well, I suggested while because you can have the i increased with every pass. You can have another one, lets say j, that shows the value not ignored. In your case j could show the last value not ingored.
Lets say you start your calculations from a[1]. You have the following:

Code:

int j = 0;
int i = 1;

while (...) {
  if (a[i] compare a[j]) {
    do_stuff;
    j++;
   }
   i++;
}

First not that at the beggining j == i - 1
a[j] and a[j] will be compared. If you get what you want then j would be increased. In any case i will also be increased. If you don't get what you want then j will not get increased. Isn't that what you want:
Well thinking of it even better the previous value thing seems better:

Code:

for (i = 1; ...; i++) {
  if (a[i] compare a[previous]) {
    do_stuff;
    previous++;
  }
}

The same thing actually. Just proposed while as an idea. Gives you the opportunity to think more clearly about what you should do.

Is that what you want?