A question that'll take 2 seconds to answer

Yeah so I got C++ 5 for dummies and in int main() they put things in the parameters.

Code:

---

int main (nNumberofArgs, char* pszArgs[]) {
//blah blah code here
return 0;
}

---

Okay an idiot can read the first one - it means number of arguments. But the second however I find to be in swahili. So, I don't know much about pointers, and this is in the beginning of the whole friggin book. Without explaining a thing!

Also at the top, they always include

<cstdlib>
and
<cstdio>

What are these includes including? :D

the second parameter is an array of character strings which containsthe actual arguments the user passes on start up of the program your making. You have to know what the user passed as arguments right?..you can't do much with just the numer. char* is what makes it string and the [] is what makes it an array. I'm not surprised that the book didtnt explain this right away its not comonly th first thing you learn...they're just trying to get you in the habit of puting those arguments in I guess.

as for the headers the the cstlib is including a standdard library of useful functions to use (not sure what in your case tho) and the stdio is standard io useful functions to use..like printf and cout/cin

hope that helps,
Boomba

Should I put those arguments in?

I mean i've been programming for a while and int main(//nothing here) has been doing fine for me.

No reason to put the parameters there unless you want your program to accept command-line arguments. (If you didn't know, that's what you type after the program name if you run it from a command prompt, ie "myprog.exe arg1 arg2")

if you dont wanna support parameters being passed to your program then dont bother...here i'll give you an example of a a use for this:

Code:

---

int main (nNumberofArgs, char* pszArgs[])
{
    if(pszArgs[0] == 'A') //if first argument equals letter A
    {
        printf("you typed letter A \n");
    }
    else if(pszArgs[0] == 'B') //if first argumentequals letter B
    {
        printf("you typed letter B \n");
    }
    else
    {
        printf("you typed A letter other than A or B as your first argument. \n ");
    }

    return 0;
}

---

so now when you execute your program from a cmd like you can execute it like this:

>program.exe A
Result: you typed letter A

>program.exe B
Result: you typed letter B


>program.exe Cv
Result: you typed A letter other than A or B as your first argument.

pszArgs[1] would be your second argument, pszArgs[2] would be your 3rd argument..and so on

With a few modifications that program would do as explained

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

int main (int nNumberofArgs, char* pszArgs[]) {
  if  ( nNumberofArgs > 1 ) {
      if(pszArgs[1][0] == 'A') { //if first argument equals letter A
          printf("you typed letter A \n");
      }
      else if(pszArgs[1][0] == 'B') { //if first argumentequals letter B
          printf("you typed letter B \n");
      }
      else {
            printf("you typed A letter other than A or B as your first argument. \n ");
      }
    }
    return 0;
}

---

Kurt

Quote:

---

With a few modifications that program would do as explained

---

woops... thanx for catching that mistake Zuk.

So basically it's kinda pointless?

yeah well if those argument variables arent being used anywhere then removing them for now wont lead to any bad outcomes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blankstare77

Yeah so I got C++ 5 for dummies

---

That was your first mistake. Throw it in the trash (or take it back where you bought it) and get a decent book.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ancient Dragon

That was your first mistake. Throw it in the trash (or take it back where you bought it) and get a decent book.

---

That is a decent book. What are you talking about.

Quote:

---

That is a decent book. What are you talking about.

---

The "... for Dummies" books tend to be overly simplistic. Keep using that book by all means, but if you intend to get serious about programming, I suggest you diversify your reading material.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blankstare77

That is a decent book. What are you talking about.

---

That series of books are named "for dummies" for good reason -- only a true dummy would bother waste their hard-earned monty to buy and read them. They are a waste of time and money.:D Here is a list of books that are worth reading and studying.

Don't let the name fool you. Seriously though, those books are great for beginners and I'm learning a lot from it. Then I'll move on to an advanced book. I am by no means stating that this book has it all, because if it did it would be like 1000 pages.