Thread: Having a problem with Classes

Hey everyone,

First a little background. I just started learning C++ using C++ for Dummies 7in1 (from my search on this site I guess some people have said it isn't as good as other books and may teach bad habits but it is what I have). I've had Pascal back 9th (25yo grad student now) grade and have been doing html since 6th or 7th and have a firm grasp on it, CSS, and some javascript.

To the point... I've just reached the section of the book introducing classes. I am trying to run the code and running into compile errors. Running the code from the CD I receive the same errors (at least I think so). I believe the problem is in my header file establishing the class. Anyhow, here is my code, any help as to why it is giving me errors would be greatly appreciated!

Using Dev C++ btw, 5 beta 9.2

main.cpp

Code:

#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
#include "Pen.h"

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    Pen FavoritePen;
    FavoritePen.InkColor = blue;
    FavoritePen.ShellColor = clear;
    FavoritePen.CapColor = black;
    FavoritePen.Style = ballpoint;
    FavoritePen.Length = 6.0;
    FavoritePen.Brand = "Pilot";
    FavoritePen.InkLevelPercent = 90;
    
    Pen WorstPen;
    WorstPen.InkColor = blue;
    WorstPen.ShellColor = red;
    WorstPen.CapCOlor = black;
    WorstPen.Style = felt_tip;
    WorstPen.Length = 3.5;
    WorstPen.Brand = "Acme Special";
    WorstPen.InkLevelPercent = 100;
    
    cout << "This is my favorite pen" << endl;
    cout << "Color: " << FavoritePen.InkColor << endl;
    cout << "Brand: " << FavoritePen.Brand << endl;
    cout << "Ink Level: " << FavoritePen.InkLevelPercent << "%" << endl;
    FavoritePen.write_on_paper("Hello I am a pen");
    cout << "Ink Level: " << FavoritePen.InkLevelPercent << "%" << endl;
    
    system("PAUSE");
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Pen.h

Code:

#ifndef PEN_H
#define PEN_H
#include <string>

enum Color {blue, red, black, clear};
enum PenStyle {ballpoint, felt_tip, fountain_pen};

class Pen {
      public:
             Color InkColor;
             Color ShellColor;
             Color CapColor;
             PenStyle Style;
             float Length;
             string Brand;
             int InkLevelPercent;
             
             void write_on_paper(string words) {
                  if (InkLevelPercent <= 0) {
                                      cout << "Oops! Out of ink!" << endl;
                  }
                  else {
                       cout << words << endl;
                       InkLevelPercent = InkLevelPercent - words.length();
                  }
             }
             void break_in_half() {
                  InkLevelPercent = InkLevelPercent / 2;
                  Length = Length / 2.0;
             }
             void run_out_of_ink() {
                  InkLevelPercent = 0;
             }
};
#endif

TIA for any help!

-ck

15 \Pen.h `string' does not name a type

use std::string

21 \main.cpp 'class Pen' has no member named 'CapCOlor'

spelling

It works! Thanks for the help.

What is the logic behind why #include "Pen.h" must occur after std namespace (not quite sure what the std namespace does yet either)?

My book makes no mention of std namespace, which I figure must be due to an older compiler version or some other reason. Anyhow, when I was first learning and toying with headers, coming up with my own examples and such, I included them before std namespace and the program worked.

I also am unsure as to what std::string does.

Again, thanks for the help

http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1043284351
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/namespaces.html

Originally Posted by MacGyver

Put simply, so you don't have a bunch of naming conflicts, you can wrap classes and functions into a namespace. That means you have to specifically tell the compiler where you expect to find a class or function (that isn't in the global namespace). The "using namespace" line tells the compiler that you want to treat the following namespace as if it's global (so to speak), so that you can just specify a class or function from that namespace without being completely explicit.

That makes some sense but I think i'm still a bit away from fully grasping it. With a little more research/learning I think I'll have it.

Thanks to both of you for your help and thanks for the links robwhit, I'm checking them out now!

Putting the using namespace std before #include "Pen.h" is bad practice. The best solution is to just use std:: in your header files.

You should also #include <iostream> in your header file and put std:: before cout and endl, otherwise your code will get compile errors depending on what order your .cpp file includes your header...