What's the best way to initialize a large const array?

[pliang]

I have an array that looks like this in my header,

const char a[100];

obviously that's too big for me to write out all 100 elements in the header file, I would much rather do it with a for loop(especially when each element is not the same). I am wondering how I can initialize the array in my .cpp file without the compiler complaining about not initializing a const variable. Thanks!

[sean]

I don't believe there is a way. You could either just go ahead and initilize it manually in the header file, or strip it of it's const status.

[7stud]

I am wondering how I can initialize the array in my .cpp file without the compiler complaining about not initializing a const variable.

A variable wouldn't be too constant if you could change it's value, now would it?

[misplaced]

just put it in a header file - that's what they're for. if you REALLY don't feel like typeing it out, and it can be initialized using a for loop, then just whip up a little prog to write it to a file, then copy and paste. (don't forget take indention into consideration either)

[Darryl]

You could create an array of pointers to const char, that way you could initialize them at run-time using "new" with a file or loop or whatever other method you had planned.