integers storing as symbols in arrays

Hi, in the following program, the random numbers once stored in the array, aren't storing as integers!! I have no idea why. I tried testing it by printing to the screen what the random number was before it went in the array, then printed it from the array, and it was different. The random number was generating fine, but once it was printed from the array it came up with weird symbols like hearts, diamonds, smiley faces, crosses etc. Has anybody any idea what this is?!! I tried looking on the forum, but I had no idea what to searhc for!!

Heres the code:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <fstream.h>
#include <string>

int randomCardValueGenerator(int, int);
void DisplayWelcome();

//a single card in a hand
struct card
{
  string suit;
  string value;
};

//min & max for card values
const int minCardValue = 1;
const int maxCardValue = 14;

//min & max for card suits
const int minCardSuit = 1;
const int maxCardSuit = 4;

int main()
{ 
  struct card hand[5]; //an array of cards
  int randomCardValue;
  int randomCardSuit;

  DisplayWelcome();
 
  srand(time(NULL)); //seed random number with system time                     
 
  for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
  {
      randomCardValue = randomCardValueGenerator(minCardValue, maxCardValue);
      randomCardSuit = randomCardValueGenerator(minCardSuit, maxCardSuit);

      hand[i].value = randomCardValue;
      hand[i].suit = randomCardSuit;

      cout << "Card 1: " << randomCardSuit << " " << randomCardValue << "\n"; 
      cout << "hand[i].value = " << hand[i].value << ", hand[i].suit = " << hand[i].suit << "\n";
  }

  return 0;
}

//creates a random card value
int randomCardValueGenerator(int minValue, int maxvalue)
{ 
  int range;
  int randNum;
  int number;
 
  number = rand();
  range = maxvalue - minValue + 1; 
  randNum = number % range + minValue;

  return randNum;
}



void DisplayWelcome()
{
  cout << "\n\n\t\t\tWelcome to my random number game!\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t---------------------------------\n\n";

}

---

You are using strings to store the values. The program will print out characters, that's what you are seeing.

You could try looking up vectors, they are in <vector>.

for example...

ascii for 1 or 2 is a smiley face...

Thanks! It's all working now. :-)

Ok, well it worked for the sample program I did. But for my major assignment I tried using vectors but it didn't work. I read up a little on vectors, and the problem I'm having is that by the looks of it, you cannot pass a vector structure through a function. That probably makes no sense, as I don't quite know how to put it. I've changed the strings to a char and to an int. Now, not using vectors, I still get those funny symbols instead of the character. I can't seem to find anywhere in my textbook how to convert the location to the actual character (if that makes sense!).
This is the code without use of vectors:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream.h>
#include <string>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
//#include <vector>

const int maxCards = 5; //no. of cards in a hand
const int minCardValue = 1; //min for random card values
const int maxCardValue = 14; //max for random card values
const int minCardSuit = 1; //min for random card suits
const int maxCardSuit = 4; //max for random card suits

ifstream cardFile;

//a single card in a hand
struct card
{
  char suit;
  int value;
};
 
string fileName;

//function prototypes
bool fillUpHandFromFile(card []);
void DisplayHandMenu();
void MainMenuLogic(card []);
void IncorrectResponse(card []);
//void ConvertSuit_Value(card []);
void DisplayHand(card []);
void DisplayTitle();
void Exit();
void selectRandomHand(card []);
char convertRandomSuit(int);
int randomCardValueGenerator(int, int);
void DisplayHandGreeting();

int main()
{   
  //vector<card> hand(maxCards); //vector of cards
  struct card hand[maxCards]; //an array of cards
  srand(time(NULL)); //seed random number with system time
  DisplayHandMenu(); //show menu
  MainMenuLogic(hand); //logic behind the menu
  return 0;
}

//function that displays the title
void DisplayTitle()
{
  //display title
  cout << "\t*************************************************************\n";
  cout << "\t*              WELCOME TO CARMEN'S CASINO!!                *\n";
  cout << "\t*              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                *\n";
  cout << "\t*************************************************************\n";
}

//function that displays menu options
void DisplayHandMenu()
{
  //clear the screen
  system("cls");

  DisplayTitle();

  //display instructions
  cout << "\n\n\tThis program will evaluate a single poker hand. \n";
  cout << "\tSimply select one of the hands below, so we can begin playing!\n\n\n";

  //display menu items
  cout << "\t\t\t______________________________\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t______________________________\n\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t          MAIN MENU\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t          ~~~~~~~~~\n\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      1.  Flush\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      2.  Four of a Kind\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      3.  Full House\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      4.  Pair\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      5.  Royal Flush\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      6.  Straight\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      7.  Straight Flush\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      8.  Three of a Kind\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      9.  Two Pair\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      10. Random Hand\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t      11. Exit\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t______________________________\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t______________________________\n\n";

  cout << "\n\t*************************************************************\n";

  //prompt user to make a selection
  cout << "\n\tPlease make your selection: ";

}

//function that assigns a filename corresponding to user selection
void MainMenuLogic(card hand[])
{
  string option = "textCards"; //whether or not user wants to exit etc.
  int selection; //the number the user selects from the menu

  //read in the users option
  cin >> selection;

  switch(selection)
  {
  case 1: fileName = "Flush"; //if user selects flush
          break;
  case 2: fileName = "FourKind"; //if user selects four of a kind
          break;
  case 3: fileName = "FullHouse"; //if user selects full house
          break;
  case 4: fileName = "Pair"; //if user selects pair
          break;
  case 5: fileName = "RoyalFlush"; //if user selects royal flush
          break;
  case 6: fileName = "Straight"; //if user selects straight
          break;
  case 7: fileName = "StraightFlush"; //if user selects straight flush
          break;
  case 8: fileName = "ThreeKind"; //if user selects three of a kind
          break;
  case 9: fileName = "TwoPair"; //if user selects two pair
          break;
  case 10: option = "random";
            selectRandomHand(hand);
            break;
  case 11: option = "exit"; //if user selects exit
            break;
  default: IncorrectResponse(hand); //if user enters a value other then 0-9
  } 
   
  //if user chooses to exit
  if (option == "exit")
  { 
      Exit();
  }
  else if (option == "random")
        {
          // system("cls");
            //DisplayTitle(); 
           
          // cout << "\n\t\t\tRANDOM HAND\n";
          // cout << "\t\t\t-----------\n\n";
          // DisplayHand(hand); //display the chosen hand
        }
        else //if user does not choose to exit or select random hand
        {         
          fillUpHandFromFile(hand); //fill the hand array from file
          //ConvertSuit_Value(hand); //convert the no's into words
          DisplayHandGreeting();
          DisplayHand(hand); //display the chosen hand
        } 
}

//function that alerts user if they enter an invalid selection
void IncorrectResponse(card hand[])
{
  //display alert message
  cout << "\n\n\t\t\tYou must enter 0-9!\n\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t";

  system("pause");

  DisplayHandMenu(); //display the menu options
  MainMenuLogic(hand); //run the menu
}

//function that fills the hand array from the file
bool fillUpHandFromFile(card hand[])
{     
  string FileName = fileName + ".txt"; //adds ext .txt to fileName
 
  //open the card textfile
  cardFile.open(FileName.c_str());
 
  //if it cannot open the file
  if(cardFile.fail())
  {
      //display message
      cout << "No such file name found!";
      return false;
  }
  else //if file opens
  {
      for(int index=0; index<=maxCards-1; index++)
      {
        //read value from file and put into array position index
        cardFile >> hand[index].suit;

        //read next value from file and put into array position index
        cardFile >> hand[index].value;         
      }
      cardFile.close(); //close the text file
      return true;
  } 
}


//function that displays the hand of cards
void DisplayHand(card hand[])
{     
  //Display Cards
  for (int a=0; a < maxCards; a++)
  {
      cout << "\t\t\tCard " << a+1 << ": " << hand[a].value << " of " << hand[a].suit << "\n"; 
  }

  cout << "\n\t\t\t------------------------------\n";
  cout << "\n\n\t\t\t";
  system("pause");

  DisplayHandMenu();
  MainMenuLogic(hand);
}

//function that exits the program
void Exit()
{ 
  cout << "\n\n\t*************************************************************\n";
  cout << "\n\t          Thankyou for visiting Carmen's Casino!";
  cout << "\n\n\t\t\t";
  system("pause"); 
}

//selects a random hand & stores in array
void selectRandomHand(card hand[])
{
  int randomCardValue;
  int randomCardSuit;
  //char newRandomCardsuit;

  for (int i=0; i < maxCards; i++)
  {
      randomCardValue = randomCardValueGenerator(minCardValue, maxCardValue);
      randomCardSuit = randomCardValueGenerator(minCardSuit, maxCardSuit);
      //newRandomCardsuit = randomCardSuit;
      //newRandomCardsuit = convertRandomSuit(randomCardSuit);
     
      //put into hand array
      hand[i].value = randomCardValue;
      hand[i].suit = randomCardSuit;

      cout << "hand[i].value = " << hand[i].value << "\n";
      cout << "hand[i].suit = " << hand[i].suit << "\n";
  }
}

//creates a random number within specified range
int randomCardValueGenerator(int minValue, int maxvalue)
{ 
  int range;
  int randNum;
  int number;
 
  number = rand();
  range = maxvalue - minValue + 1; 
  randNum = number % range + minValue;

  return randNum;
}

//converts 1-4, into suit names
char convertRandomSuit(int randomCardSuit)
{
  char newSuitValue;

  if (randomCardSuit == 1) //if num is 1, return Clubs
  {
      newSuitValue = 'C';
  }
  else if (randomCardSuit == 2) //if num is 2, return Spades
        {
          newSuitValue = 'S';
        }
        else if (randomCardSuit == 3) //if num is 3, return Diamonds
            {
                newSuitValue = 'D';
            }
            else newSuitValue = 'H'; //if num is 4, return Hearts

  return newSuitValue;
}

void DisplayHandGreeting()
{
  system("cls");
  DisplayTitle();

  //Display Greeting
  cout << "\n\n\t\t\tYou selected " << fileName << "!\n";
  cout << "\n\t\t\t------------------------------\n";

  //Display Hand
  cout << "\n\t\t\tSELECTED HAND\n";
  cout << "\t\t\t-------------\n\n";
}

---

Now the only difference when I was attempting to use vectors with this code is the commenting out lines; #include vector,
'vector<card> hand(maxCards); ' when I was declaring it.
When I tried declaring a function I tried:
for example: MainMenuLogic(vector<card> hand[])
Which is probably really wrong! But can you have both a vector, and use struct, so its a vector AND type card?
Sorry, but I'm soooo new at this!