Just starting

**kid8n1** · 01-27-2021

Hello everyone I am just starting to learn C programming. I got the following book at a second hand store:

Head First C
isbn: 9781449399917

I know nothing of programming or concepts, but have a great interest in C and programming, and hope to teach myself something new.

I am doing chapter 1 and I am confused at some of the logic. Please note - I trimmed down the code so it is short, to highlight my question.

Here is the text book code

Code:

/*
 * Program to evaluate face values.
 * Released under the Vegas Public License.
 * (c)2014 The College Blackjack Team.
 */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
 char card_name[3];
 puts("Enter the card_name: ");
 scanf("%2s", card_name);
 int val = 0;
 if (card_name[0] == 'K') {
 val = 10;
 } else if (card_name[0] == 'Q') {
 val = 10;
 } else if (card_name[0] == 'J') {
 val = 10;
 } else if (card_name[0] == 'A') {
 val = 11;
 } else {
 val = atoi(card_name);
 }
 printf("The card value is: %i\n", val);
 return 0;
}

Code:

card_name[0]

I understand it is looking at the first position in the input string, but I want to do this to check position [1].

Code:

// Modified code
// 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
 char card_name[3];
 puts("Enter the card_name: ");
 scanf("%2s", card_name);
 int val = 0;
 if (card_name[0] == 'K') {
 val = 10;
 } 
 else if ((card_name[0] == 'Q') && (card_name[1] == 'Q')){
     val = 33;
} else {
 
val = atoi(card_name);
 }
 printf("The card value is: %i\n", val);
 return 0;
}

But it does not seem to be checking position [0] and [1]. What or how is this working?

Code:

  
 0    1    /0
+----+----+----+
|  K |  Q | /0 |
+----+----+----+

I hope to have a conversation and be able to understand why the logic does not work, or what I think should work.

Thank you for your help

**john.c** · 01-27-2021

The diagram you show is for the string "KQ", but your code is looking for "QQ".
But even if you change the code to this

Code:

  else if (card_name[0] == 'K' && card_name[1] == 'Q')

it still won't print 33 because the 'if' condition just before this 'else if' will be true since the first position is 'K'. Maybe you should put this test first.

Or you could use a "nested if"

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
 
int main()
{
  char card_name[3];
  puts("Enter the card_name: ");
  scanf("%2s", card_name);
  int val = 0;
  if (card_name[0] == 'K') {
    if (card_name[1] == 'Q') {
      val = 33;
    }
    else {
      val = 10;
    }
  } else {
    val = atoi(card_name);
  }
  printf("The card value is: %d\n", val);
  return 0;
}

**kid8n1** · 01-27-2021

That was a typing mistake on my part.

I tried the following code, and it worked.

Code:

if ((card_name[0] == 'q') && (card_name[1] == 'q')) {
    val = 50;
    }
else if (card_name[0] == 'q') {
    val = 10;
    }
else {
    val = atoi(card_name);
    }
     printf("The card value is: %i\n", val);
     return 0;
}

You were right, the order was not correct. Why is that? Does the logic or if statement stops, since the condition was TRUE?

I have not tried you 'nested if' yet, since I am not familiar with it. I am working through it, so give me sometime to understand it.

Thank you for your help, and insight.

**john.c** · 01-27-2021

Does the logic of if statement stops, since the condition was TRUE?

Yes. A chain of "if / else if" will result in only one of the blocks of code controlled by the if's being executed. For example, the following code will only execute one of the printf statements no matter what value you enter for x, even though obviously if x is less than 10 than it is also less than 20 and less than 30.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
 
int main()
{
    int x;
 
    printf("Enter x: ");
    scanf("%d", &x);
 
    if (x < 10)
    {
        printf("x is less than 10\n");
    }
    else if (x < 20)
    {
        printf("x is 10 to 19\n");
    }
    else if (x < 30)
    {
        printf("x is 20 to 29\n");
    }
    else
    {
        printf("x is 30 or greater\n");
    }
 
    return 0;
}

**kid8n1** · 01-28-2021

So it is very important on how you work out the IF/Else logic it seems. In my case, how does one know what comes first or conditions? Maybe it come with practice, but is there any rule of thumb for when trying to test against single and double entries like in my modified code to experiment?

Also, maybe I need more resources. Do you know of any books that are good for say College 101?

**john.c** · 01-28-2021

It's pretty easy to figure out the correct order if you remember that the tests are done in order. So if the first test is for one q and the second is for two, the second will never be reached since if there's two q's there's also one q. As another example, if you have this

Code:

if (x < 100)
    printf("less than 100\n");
else if (x < 50)
    printf("less than 50\n");

it should be obvious that the second printf will never execute, since if x is < 50 then it will also be < 100.

Often the tests are not connected in this way and the order doesn't matter, like in your first post. The only order necessary there is that the final 'else' come last, but that's always the case as it's part of the language syntax that a plain 'else' (without an 'if' after it) must come last.

I don't have any book recommendations. The main thing is to get a relatively modern book, preferably one that covers C++17 or at least C++14 (or, at a bare minimum, C++11).

**thmm** · 01-29-2021

@john.c
why do you mention books about C++ when he wants to learn C ?

**rstanley** · 01-29-2021

Originally Posted by kid8n1

Also, maybe I need more resources. Do you know of any books that are good for say College 101?

You need to study a good up to date book on the C Programming Language, (Not C++) cover to cover, and do all the exercises at the end of each chapter! Choose one of the three listed below:

C Programming, A Modern Approach
Author: K. N. King

C Primer Plus, 6th Edition
Stephen Prata

C How to Program, 8/e
Deitel & Deitel

**john.c** · 01-29-2021

@thmm, Oops! You're right. I must've had C++ on the brain.
@kid8n1, Ignore my "recommendations".

**kid8n1** · 01-29-2021

Originally Posted by john.c

It's pretty easy to figure out the correct order if you remember that the tests are done in order. So if the first test is for one q and the second is for two, the second will never be reached since if there's two q's there's also one q. As another example, if you have this

Code:

if (x < 100)
    printf("less than 100\n");
else if (x < 50)
    printf("less than 50\n");

it should be obvious that the second printf will never execute, since if x is < 50 then it will also be < 100.

Often the tests are not connected in this way and the order doesn't matter, like in your first post. The only order necessary there is that the final 'else' come last, but that's always the case as it's part of the language syntax that a plain 'else' (without an 'if' after it) must come last.

I don't have any book recommendations. The main thing is to get a relatively modern book, preferably one that covers C++17 or at least C++14 (or, at a bare minimum, C++11).

Ok... understand what you mean. I guess I will need to focus on the logic for my if statements when working with If/Else.

Thank you.

**kid8n1** · 01-29-2021

Originally Posted by rstanley

You need to study a good up to date book on the C Programming Language, (Not C++) cover to cover, and do all the exercises at the end of each chapter! Choose one of the three listed below:

C Programming, A Modern Approach
Author: K. N. King

C Primer Plus, 6th Edition
Stephen Prata

C How to Program, 8/e
Deitel & Deitel

I will see if I can find these books. I know C is not used a lot to day, and is hard to learn. My school friends say to learn Python, but looking over some of the code, it really does not teach the concepts I am looking for. I do not mind, hard to learn since it will be worth more to learn it. I am sure the if/else logic could be easier to learn in Python, but I will still learn logic with C, and be able to learn memory management as well.

Thank you

**kid8n1** · 01-29-2021

Originally Posted by rstanley

You need to study a good up to date book on the C Programming Language, (Not C++) cover to cover, and do all the exercises at the end of each chapter! Choose one of the three listed below:

C Programming, A Modern Approach
Author: K. N. King

C Primer Plus, 6th Edition
Stephen Prata

C How to Program, 8/e
Deitel & Deitel

Thank you for the links. I will check these books out.

**thmm** · 01-29-2021

I am sure the if/else logic could be easier to learn in Python

I don't think it has anything to do with the language, it has more to do about thinking clearly. Python would be easier to learn because you don't need manual memory management, it also has build-in data structures, the same could be said baout C++ too.

**Salem** · 01-29-2021

> I know C is not used a lot to day
Really?

Every OS you've ever used.
Why the C Programming Language Still Runs the World | Toptal

Or a code quality scanner surveying over 1Bn lines of code.
index | TIOBE - The Software Quality Company

Or all the projects on an open source repository.
Compare Free Open Source Software

Programming Language
Java 54,902
C++ 44,401
PHP 34,335
C 32,608

**kid8n1** · 01-29-2021

Originally Posted by Salem

> I know C is not used a lot to day
Really?

Every OS you've ever used.
Why the C Programming Language Still Runs the World | Toptal

Or a code quality scanner surveying over 1Bn lines of code.
index | TIOBE - The Software Quality Company

Or all the projects on an open source repository.
Compare Free Open Source Software

Thank you Salem for you inspiration. I did not know C is used and still runs the world. All my friends in school tell me to use Python, because it is so easy; however, I am not worried about it being easy - I want to learn. I wanted to make TI-84 apps and I have read that Arduino runs C applications. Also I wanted to learn about computers. I was watching NASA TV and they mentioned C on one of their satellite or rovers (Cant remember now), and was like "oh neat I want to do that", and I went to a second hand book store with my family and saw a C book.

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