Thread: multidimensional array question

  1. #1
    Registered User Mr_Jack's Avatar
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    multidimensional array question

    How do you make a multidimensional array of chars on the free store and how do you modifiy the values of each of the chars in the array?

  2. #2
    End Of Line Hammer's Avatar
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    Lookup new and delete.

    Post what you're tried if you get stuck.
    When all else fails, read the instructions.
    If you're posting code, use code tags: [code] /* insert code here */ [/code]

  3. #3
    Registered User Mr_Jack's Avatar
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    When I try and create a multidimensional array of chars on the free store I do it like this:
    Code:
    char * board = new char[5][6];
    This is excactly the way my book does it, only it's a one dimensional array in the examples. With the above I get the error 'cannot convert "char (*)[6]" to "char *". I have no idea what that means.

  4. #4
    End Of Line Hammer's Avatar
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    How about:
    Code:
    #include <iostream>
    #include <iomanip>
    
    int main(void)
    {
      const int ROW = 5;
      const int COL = 6;
      int **array = new int*[ROW];
      for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++)
        array[i] = new int[COL];
        
      for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++)
        for (int j = 0; j < COL; j++)
          array[i][j] = i*10+j;
          
      for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++)
        for (int j = 0; j < COL; j++)
          std::cout <<"array["<<i<<"]["<<j<<"] = " 
                    <<std::setw(2)<<std::setfill('0')
                    <<array[i][j] <<std::endl;
      
      for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++)
        delete [] array[i];
      
      delete [] array;
      return(0);
    }
    
    /*
    Output
    
    array[0][0] = 00
    array[0][1] = 01
    array[0][2] = 02
    array[0][3] = 03
    array[0][4] = 04
    array[0][5] = 05
    array[1][0] = 10
    array[1][1] = 11
    array[1][2] = 12
    array[1][3] = 13
    array[1][4] = 14
    array[1][5] = 15
    array[2][0] = 20
    array[2][1] = 21
    array[2][2] = 22
    array[2][3] = 23
    array[2][4] = 24
    array[2][5] = 25
    array[3][0] = 30
    array[3][1] = 31
    array[3][2] = 32
    array[3][3] = 33
    array[3][4] = 34
    array[3][5] = 35
    array[4][0] = 40
    array[4][1] = 41
    array[4][2] = 42
    array[4][3] = 43
    array[4][4] = 44
    array[4][5] = 45
    
    */
    When all else fails, read the instructions.
    If you're posting code, use code tags: [code] /* insert code here */ [/code]

  5. #5
    Registered User Mr_Jack's Avatar
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    thanks for your help.

  6. #6
    Confused Magos's Avatar
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    Code:
    array[0][0] = 00
    array[0][1] = 01
    array[0][2] = 02
    array[0][3] = 03
    array[0][4] = 04
    array[0][5] = 05
    array[1][0] = 10
    array[1][1] = 11
    array[1][2] = 12
    array[1][3] = 13
    array[1][4] = 14
    array[1][5] = 15
    array[2][0] = 20
    array[2][1] = 21
    array[2][2] = 22
    array[2][3] = 23
    array[2][4] = 24
    array[2][5] = 25
    array[3][0] = 30
    array[3][1] = 31
    array[3][2] = 32
    array[3][3] = 33
    array[3][4] = 34
    array[3][5] = 35
    array[4][0] = 40
    array[4][1] = 41
    array[4][2] = 42
    array[4][3] = 43
    array[4][4] = 44
    array[4][5] = 45
    Yeesh...
    Code:
    for(int a=0;a<6;a++)
    {
      for(int b=0;b<6;b++)
      {
        array[a][b] = a*10+b;
      }
    }
    MagosX.com

    Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
    Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

  7. #7
    End Of Line Hammer's Avatar
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    @Magos: Your point being??!! That's the same code I used
    When all else fails, read the instructions.
    If you're posting code, use code tags: [code] /* insert code here */ [/code]

  8. #8
    Confused Magos's Avatar
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    Ouch! I didn't see the quotes, that it was the output. Thought you set the values using those 36 lines of code. Should've known you knew better .
    MagosX.com

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    Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

  9. #9
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
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    I almost posted something about that... then i noticed the comments...
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  10. #10
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    Re: multidimensional array question

    Originally posted by Mr_Jack
    How do you make a multidimensional array of chars on the free store and how do you modifiy the values of each of the chars in the array?
    The others have told you how to accomplish that -- I will tell a bit about how *not* to accomplish this :P

    Dynamic arrays tend to be a "problem area" of code, and dynamic arrays OF dynamic arrays are even worse. It's hard to make them exception-safe, it's impossible to use them as return values with 100% safety, etc.

    Instead, why not use an STL vector of vectors, or vector of strings?

    E.g.:

    Code:
    // Some constants
    const int nRows = 5;
    const int nCols = 11;
    
    //Typedefs to save our fingers and improve readability
    typedef std::vector<char> cArrayRow;
    typedef std::vector<cArrayRow> cArray;
    
    // Make an array initially filled with 'A':
    
    cArray myArray(nRows,cArrayRow(nCols,'A'));
    That is it. One line to allocate all the memory, NO lines needed to deallocate (it happens automatically when myArray leaves scope). And it's exception safe. AND you can return an array from a function with 100% certainty that you will not ever leak memory.
    You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear on a pink ball alone can take the head clean off a 90 pound midget at 300 yards.

  11. #11
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    Another variation on the same theme:

    Code:
    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;
    
    void populateArray(int* m, int numOfRows, int numOfColumns);
    void displayArray(int* m, int numOfRows, int numOfColumns);
    
    int main()
    {
        unsigned NUM_OF_ROWS = 0;
        unsigned NUM_OF_COLUMNS = 0;
        
        cout << "Enter the number of rows: " << flush;
        cin >> NUM_OF_ROWS;
        cout << "Enter the number of columns: " << flush;
        cin >> NUM_OF_COLUMNS;
    
        int* matrix = new int[NUM_OF_ROWS * NUM_OF_COLUMNS];
        populateArray(matrix, NUM_OF_ROWS, NUM_OF_COLUMNS);
        displayArray(matrix, NUM_OF_ROWS, NUM_OF_COLUMNS);
        delete [] matrix;
    
        return 0;
    }
    
    void populateArray(int* m, int numOfRows, int numOfColumns)
    {
        for(int row=0, value=0; row < numOfRows; row++){
            for(int column=0; column < numOfColumns; column++){
                m[(row*numOfColumns)+column] = value++;
            }
        }
    }
    
    void displayArray(int* m, int numOfRows, int numOfColumns)
    {
        for(int row=0; row < numOfRows; row++){
            for(int column=0; column < numOfColumns; column++){
                cout << m[(row*numOfColumns)+column] << " ";
            }
        }
        endl(cout);
    }

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