Thread: my code is messed up says the compiler

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    16

    my code is messed up says the compiler

    here it is

    Code:
    #include <iostream.h>
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <conio.h>
    #include <windows.h>
    #include <dos.h>
    #include <string.h>
    
    #define PROG_NAME "se"
    
    //variables
    char message[1000];
    //functions
    void encypt ();
    void decrypt ();
    char EncryptChar ();
    void EncryptString ();
    //::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::code starts here
    
    char EncryptChar(char ch)
    {
        if (ch == 'Z')
        {
          return 'A';
        }
        if (ch == 'z')
        {
          return 'a';
        }
        return ch + 1;
    }
    
    void EncryptString(char *str)
    {
        while (*str != '\0')
        {
           *str = EncryptChar(*str++);
        }
    }
    
    void encrypt()
    {
    cout<<"Enter Message to Encrypt:"<<endl;
    cin.getline(message, 1000, '\n');
    EncryptString(message);
    }
    
    void decrypt()
    {
    cout<<"Error"<<endl;
    }
    
    int main(int argc, char* argv[])
    {
    //Command line arguements =)
    if(argc != 3)
      {
        cout<<"Error, Bad Input."; 
        return 0;   
      }
    
    if(argv[2] == '-')
    {
    
    if((argv[3] == 'e') || (argv[3] == 'E'))
    {
    system("cls");
    encrypt();
    }
    else if((argv[3] == 'd') || (argv[3] == 'D'))
    {
    system("cls");
    decrypt();
    }
    else
    {
    cout<<"Error Bad Input, Read the ReadMe File"<<endl;
    return 0;
    }
    
    }
    else
    {
    cout<<"Error Bad Input, Read the ReadMe File"<<endl;
    return 0;
    }
    
    
    return 0;
    }
    im useing bcc 5.5 it says:
    69: Cannot convert 'char' to char *' in function main(int, char * *)
    72:same thing as above
    72:Same thing
    77:same thing
    77:same thing
    • 0927
    • a.k.a 0 9 two 7

  2. #2
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Posts
    9,897
    I got 18 errors total.

    >// ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
    ::::::::code starts here

    This is two lines, a C++ comment only works for one line but that may have been caused by the board formatting.

    >if(argv[2] == '-')
    This and other lines similar to this are your problems. argv is an array of pointers to strings, when you try to test a const string and a char for equality the compiler chokes. Also, anything not separated by whitespace will be considered a single string in argv so assuming your command line input is

    c:\>test.exe -e

    The program will take test.exe as argv[0] and -e as argv[1]. So you could copy argv[1] into an array and then parse it, or use strcmp( argv[1], "-e" ); to test for equality.

    -Prelude
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    16

    ok fixed it a little

    i fixed my earlier problems now it is this

    Code:
    #include <iostream.h>
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <conio.h>
    #include <windows.h>
    #include <dos.h>
    #include <string.h>
    
    #define PROG_NAME "se"
    
    //variables
    char message[1000];
    //functions
    char EncryptChar (char ch);
    void EncryptString (char *str);
    void encypt ();
    void decrypt ();
    
    
    char EncryptChar(char ch)
    {
        if (ch == 'Z')
        {
          return 'A';
        }
        if (ch == 'z')
        {
          return 'a';
        }
        return ch + 1;
    }
    
    void EncryptString(char *str)
    {
        while (*str != '\0')
        {
           *str = EncryptChar(*str++);
        }
    }
    
    void encrypt()
    {
    cout<<"Enter Message to Encrypt:"<<endl;
    cin.getline(message, 1000, '\n'); 
    EncryptString(message);
    }
    
    void decrypt()
    {
    cout<<"Error"<<endl;
    }
    
    int main(int argc, char* argv[])
    {
    
    if(argc == 2)
    {
    
    if(!strcmp(argv[1], "-e"))
    {
    encrypt();
    }
    else
    {
    cout<<"Error, Bad Input 2, se -e,-d"<<endl;
    return 0;
    }
    
    }
    else
    {
    cout<<"Error, Bad Input, se -e or -d";
    return 0;
    }
    
    return 0;
    }
    it compiles and runs but when i call
    se -e
    it asks for the string to encypt i enter it then a message box pops up and says it has preformed and illegal action
    • 0927
    • a.k.a 0 9 two 7

  4. #4
    Seņor Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    560
    I don't see your error but
    char EncryptChar(char ch)
    {
    if (ch == 'Z')
    {
    return 'A';
    }
    if (ch == 'z')
    {
    return 'a';
    }
    return ch + 1;
    }

    would be better as

    char EncryptChar(char ch)
    {
    if (ch == 'Z')
    {
    return 'A';
    }
    else if (ch == 'z')
    {
    return 'a';
    }
    else return ch + 1;
    }

  5. #5
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Posts
    9,897
    Please excuse my laziness, your code worked for me when I broke it down...so I just rewrote it. :P
    Code:
    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;
    
    void cryptString(char *str, const char crypt);
    char cryptChar(char ch, const char crypt);
    
    /* argv should have three parameters: The file name,
    ** the line argument to determine encrypt or decrypt,
    ** and the line argument to do the opposite of the 
    ** previous argument, just to make sure it worked.
    **
    ** Line arguments are tested as e and d, but change
    ** the test and you can change the argument.
    */
    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {   char message[1000] = {0};
    	
        if( argc != 3 )
            // Never do this, always let the user know
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
    
        cout << "Enter a message to crypt: " << flush;
        cin.getline( message, 1000, '\n' );
    
        // Before
        cout << message << endl;
        cryptString(message, *argv[1]);
        // After
        cout << message << endl;
        cryptString(message, *argv[2]);
        // Back to original
        cout << message << endl;
    
        getchar();
    
        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
    }
    
    void cryptString(char *str, const char crypt)
    {
        while (*str != '\0') {
            *str = cryptChar(*str, crypt);
            str++;
        }
    }
    
    char cryptChar(char ch, const char crypt)
    {
        /* I used a simple rotate 13 encryption
        ** but you can use whatever you want
        */
        if( crypt == 'e' )
            ch += 13;
        else if( crypt == 'd' )
            ch -= 13;
        return ch;
    }
    Your error sounds like it may be implementation defined.

    -Prelude
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    552
    > I don't see your error but ...
    >would be better as

    I wrote that funciton! How dare you critque my work!
    Since the function extis at the return statement if the condition is true, it doesnt make a difference

    also, your suggestion always flags a warning on my compiler saying not all possible execution lines return a value, and my god I hate warnings.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    552
    the error in your code is here:

    >>>
    void EncryptString(char *str)
    {
    while (*str != '\0')
    {
    *str = EncryptChar(*str++);
    }
    }
    <<<

    since '=' is evaluated right to left, *str++ advances the pointer before the target value is set in the correct spot, so the NULL byte is overwritten. But on some compilers, a char array is initialized to zero automatically, so that would explain why the code may seem to work on some compilers and not others.

    Here is the fix:
    Code:
    void EncryptString(char *str)
    {
        while (*str != '\0')
        {
           *str++ = EncryptChar(*str);
        }
    }
    notice the incrementation happens after the equation has been evaluated

  8. #8
    Hamster without a wheel iain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    1,385
    int argc, char* argv[])

    this isnt really necessary - you can just call int main (void)
    Monday - what a way to spend a seventh of your life

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    16

    im redoing it

    im redoing it to invovle a key and useing files instead of input ought to be pretty nice thanks for the help fixing those problems.oh ya and about file i/o if i just use
    ifstream(file.txt)
    does it look in the directory the programs in?
    • 0927
    • a.k.a 0 9 two 7

  10. #10
    Registered User
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    Jan 2002
    Posts
    552
    yep

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    223
    this line is confusing...

    if(!strcmp(argv[1], "-e"))
    {
    encrypt();
    }


    strcmp can return 0 less than 0(usually -1) or greater than 0 (usually 1) !0 !-1 !1??????

    why not...

    if(strcmp(argv[1], "-e") != 0 )
    {
    encrypt();
    }

    instead...
    zMan

  12. #12
    Unregistered
    Guest
    You're correct,

    if(!strcmp(argv[1], "-e"))

    is potentially confusing but the more explicit form would be:

    if(strcmp(argv[1], "-e") == 0)

    and not

    if(strcmp(argv[1], "-e") != 0)


    What the original code is trying to say, I believe, is if the second command line argument is the flag -e then you should do the encryption. Since argv[1], if it exists, and -e are strings you would routinely use strcmp() to compare them. If they are the same string then strcmp() will return 0. However, 0 is interpreted as false and any non-zero value is interpreted as true, so the original line will resolve to if(!0) which means if(true). I like the more explicit form personally, but to save keystrokes, the form as presented is commonly used, so it pays to get used to it.

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