problem with reference string

[floydcurls]

this is my code i can't get the function to pass back the string usrname, i don't even think that i did the pointers right...... i have been messing with it for days so it might be a little screwy.

plz help me.





int GetChar(string& usrname, int& CharLvl)
{
char usr[60];
char pass[60];
char temppass[60];
char *user;
user->usrname;
cout << "Enter 'new' for New Character!" << endl;
cout << "Username: ";
cin.getline(usr, 60, '\n');
if(strcmp(usr, "new") == 0)
{
cout << "What is the username you wish to use: ";
cin.getline(usr, 60, '\n');
ofstream b_file(usr, ios::noreplace | ios:ut );
if( !b_file ) {
cout << "Username In use pick a new name.\n";
return 1;
}
cout << "What password you wish to use: ";
cin.getline(pass, 60, '\n');
b_file << pass << endl;
b_file.close();
usrname = &usr[60];
return 0;
}
cout << "Password: ";
cin.getline(pass, 60, '\n');
ifstream a_file(usr);
if (!a_file )
{
cout << "Username not found.\n\n";
return 1;
}
a_file.get(temppass, 60, '\n');
a_file.close();
if( strcmp(temppass, pass) != 0 )
{
cout << "Invalid Username and or Password!\n\n";
return 1;
}
strcat(usrname, user);
cout << usr << endl;
cout << usrname<< endl;
return 0;
}

[inZane]

ok a couple of things...

1. usr->username on a char array(usr[60])
     the -> (arrow notation is used for accesing members of a struct
    or a class when the variable is pointer to the object
    example: CMyObject *pobject;
    pobject = new CMyObject;
    pobject->memberVariable1;
    pobject->memberVariable2;
    

struct CMyObject{
     int memberVariable1;
     int memberVariable2;
};

2. Whenever you pass a variable by reference... function1(int& myVar)

modifying that variable from within your function will maintain the new value after the function returns...

and although you could do this...

char* pString = string1->c_string();

why do it just call c_string();

3. Study classes a little closer... you will notice that the string class has overloaded the = operator
you can do things like this]

char buffer[10] = "mickey";
string string1("mouse");

string1 = buffer;  //not string1 = &buffer[10]

hope this helps....