Thread: Scope

I understand now. In this first program the vector s_name is defined at the begining of main, therefore it's scope is the whole function or in this case, the whole program.

Code:

#include<iostream>
#include<string>
#include<vector>
using namespace std;

#define MAX 4
int main()
{
	vector<string> s_name;
	char s_array[MAX][15] = {"Govtcheez", "Zen", "Witch_King", "Stoned_Coder"};
	for(int i=0;i < MAX; i++)
	{
		s_name.push_back(s_array[i]);
	}
	for(vector<string>::iterator ii = s_name.begin(); ii < s_name.end();++ii)
		cout << *ii << endl;
	return 0;
}

However in this function, the vector s_name is defined inside of the loop and it is destroyed each loop cycle, therefore it is undefined when the program tries to access it outside the for loop. This second program will not compile.

Code:

#include<iostream>
#include<string>
#include<vector>
using namespace std;

#define MAX 4
int main()
{

	char s_array[MAX][15] = {"Govtcheez", "Zen", "Witch_King", "Stoned_Coder"};
	for(int i=0;i < MAX; i++)
	{
		vector<string> s_name;
		s_name.push_back(s_array[i]);
	}
	for(vector<string>::iterator ii = s_name.begin(); ii < s_name.end();++ii)
		cout << *ii << endl;
	return 0;
}

I remember Salem mentioning this before but I didn't quite understand at the time.

when something is declared within a block its scope is that block!

That's God damn right. And I might have known it sooner had I paid more attention and taken up C++ earlier.

I would like to thank YOU, O Witch_King, for my first C++ Lesson!
(I know this applies in C as well, of course, but all the same it was a good example...)

I have a question? What are things you can not do in C++ with C?

That is, how far can the two be merged?

(ie: Can you use "printf()" if you so wish?)

Also, would anyone care to give an overview of the C++ libraries (ie: <vector>, <list>, <string>...)

And what does this "< >" mean?

I do realize there are tutorials out there, but I'm just trying to stimulate a little conversation, that's all...

C and C++ have something called 'link' compatability. Don't ask me to explain because I am too burdened by College and learning C++ at this time. I want to understand things but for now this is just something that is true that I was able to read without understanding it.

The brackets <> are for specifying what type of container you want to store. Mind you I am very tired at the moment, I might not have said that perfectly. Example:
vector<string>
vector<int>
list<int>
list<Student_t>

cout << "replaces printf";

When you study C++ you will learn more about C than you would get out of reading a C textbook, unless that is your first or second C textbook and you don't know anything yet.

Pick up a C++ text and take a look.

In the book they use '!=' instead of '<' but I used the '<' because I'm used to 'C', for example in for loops. Not that I don't believe you but could you think of an example where '<' wouldn't work?

Yes, VS.NET has not given me any problems thus far with the code from 'Accelerated C++' by Koenig, yet I had some difficultites when I tried running the same code in VC++6