Thread: problem with overloader bracker operator

Hey guys ive created an overload bracket operator. For some reason I had to create an initialize function to set the array value. After it is set, the overloaded operator works fine. I would like to fix the operator so I didnt have to call an addation function before I use it. Here is my code.

Code:

#ifndef ASSOCARRAY_H
#define ASSOCARRAY_H

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

template < class T >

class AssocArray
{
	
	struct data											
	{
		T value;
		string index;
		
	};

	public :
		AssocArray(int size);
		AssocArray(const AssocArray &object);
		~AssocArray();
		
		T &operator[](const string &cell);
		void initialize(const string &cell, T input);

	private:
		data *ptr;
		int total;
		int arraySize;

};

/* ===================================== */ 

template< class T >											

/* default AssocArray constructot */
AssocArray < T > ::AssocArray(int inSize)
{	
	total = 0;
	arraySize = inSize;
	ptr = new data[arraySize];	
}



template< class T >											/* AssocArray copy constructor */
AssocArray < T > ::AssocArray(const AssocArray &object)
{

	total = object.total;
	arraySize = object.arraySize;
	ptr = new data[arraySize];
	for (int count = 0 ; count < arraySize ; count++)
		*(ptr + count) = *(object.ptr + count);
}



template< class T >											/* AssocArray destructor */
AssocArray < T > ::~AssocArray()
{	
}

template< class T>											/* initialize values */
void AssocArray < T > ::initialize(const string &cell, T input)
{
	ptr[total].index = cell;
	ptr[total].value = input;
	total++;
}


template< class T >											/* Overloaded bracket operator */
T &AssocArray < T > ::operator[](const string &cell)
{
	if (cell == "")
	{

		 cout<<"no room"<<endl;

		exit(1);
	}
	else 
	{
		for (int count = 0 ; count < arraySize ; count++)
		{
			if (ptr[count].index == cell)
			return (ptr[count].value);
		}
		
		exit(1);
	}

}

#endif

The implamentation file is empty because all the function are template related.

My main looks like this....

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include "AssocArray.h"


using namespace std;
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
	
	/* Create three different data type */
	
	typedef AssocArray< int > intclass;
	

	intclass age(2);
	
	age.initialize("chris",21);
	

	age["chris"]=25;
		
	cout << age["chris"] << endl;
	
	

	return 0;
}

If anyone see where I can change it so I can get rid of initialize function let me know.
Thanks a lot.