Thread: DWORD or bool*

  1. #1
    Registered User
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    DWORD or bool*

    I want to store 26 bits, one for each letter in the alphabet that I want to be true or false. I would store this in a boolean-array like this:

    bool alphabet[26];

    but I noticed that some functions (like GetLogicalDrives()) use a DWORD to store the 26 bits in. I'd say that for stuff like this a boolean-array would be way easier because you don't have to use any bit-comparison. So.. why is a DWORD used instead of a boolean-array, and should I use a DWORD for situations like this too?

  2. #2
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    If datasize and speed don't matter, i should use the array version. DWORD bit..........ing is probably faster.

  3. #3
    Registered User glUser3f's Avatar
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    I always do it the DWORD way, why use 26 bools when one int can do it?
    May be hard to [understand|work with] at the beginning, but once you get used to it, you'll like it.

  4. #4
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Use a dword.

  5. #5
    Registered User Codeplug's Avatar
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    Code:
    #define IsBitSet(val, bit) (((val) & (1 << (bit))) ? true : false)
    
    // or for type safety
    
    template<typename integer_t>
    inline bool IsBitSet(const integer_t &val, const size_t &bit)
    {
        return (val & (1 << bit)) ? true : false;
    }//IsBitSet
    gg

  6. #6
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    Use a std::bitset.
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

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