C++ simple problem that I can't figure out

Here is my source code: (I assure you this is not homework, I am teaching myself programming, and thought I should write a helpful program to learn from.)

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <fstream>
#include <conio.h>
#include <sstream>


using namespace std;

void WelcomeScreen();
void AddItems();

char nameOfClass[25];
char descriptionOfAssignment[250];
char dueDate[20];
int numAssn; //number of assignments
//int x = 0;



int main()
{
    WelcomeScreen();
    AddItems();
   
    cout << "\t\t\tHOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT PLANNER" << endl;
    cout << "\t\t\tPROGRAMMED BY DAMON VESSEY" << endl;
    cout << "##########################################################################" << endl;
    cout << endl << endl << endl;
    cout << "This program has been successfully terminated." << endl;
    getch();
   
   
  return 0;
}
 
   
void WelcomeScreen()
{
    system("cls");
    cout << "\t\t\tHomework Assignment and Test Planner" << endl;
    getch();
    return;
}
   

void AddItems()
{       
          int x = 0;
    ofstream myfileout;
    myfileout.open( "HwAssignment.txt", ios::out );
   
    cout << "How many homework assignments do you have?" << endl;
    cin >> numAssn;
   
    do {
        x++;
    cout << "What is the name of the class for which this homework assignment is for?" << endl;
    cin.getline( nameOfClass, 25);
          myfileout << "[" << nameOfClass << "]";
   
    cout << "Write a description of what your assignment or test covers." << endl;
    cin.getline( descriptionOfAssignment, 250);
          myfileout << " - " << descriptionOfAssignment;
   
    cout << "What is the date of which your assignment is due or the day you take your test?" << endl;
    cin.getline( dueDate, 20);
          myfileout << " - (Due: " << dueDate << ")";
         
          myfileout << endl;
          } while (x < numAssn);
   
    myfileout.close();
    return;
}

---

I can't figure out why when the program asks "how many homework assignments does it have?", that after the user answers, it skips the question "What is the name of the class for which this homework assignment is for?", and does not even allow the user to input anything, and goes straight to the question "Write a description of what your assignment or test covers." Does anyone know why this happens? I have had this happen to me on several of my other programs, but accidently fixed them somehow, but I want to understand why this happens. Thank you.

> cin >> numAssn;
This leaves a newline on the input stream

> cin.getline( nameOfClass, 25);
This uses the newline left behind by the previous input method.

Mixing input methods is a bad idea. You could try say
cin.ignore();
but for me, the simplest answer is to always use getline to read the input, then do whatever you need to convert the result yourself. Using string streams makes this a lot easier to do.

By the time you've made the code robust enough to deal with
"please enter a number", and your user types in
"I'm an idiot"
there isn't a lot of difference between what seems like a "short" way and a "long" way.

i just replace all

Code:

---

cin.getLine( variable , # );

---

into

Code:

---

cin >> variable;

---

and my output file looks fine.

i guess they don't get along with each other.

The difference is that cin >> variable; won't include whitespace, so if your name or description or due date have spaces in them it won't work right.

Thank you very much everyone for replying (and with relevance). Now I understand how my program works. Thanks again everyone!

Code:

---

char nameOfClass[25];
char descriptionOfAssignment[250];
char dueDate[20];
int numAssn; //number of assignments

---

It is best to not get into the habbit of having to many things global. Try to keep data as local to the functions as you can, and pass them by value/reference when needed.

It's a sin to use char with cin.
Use std::string and std::getline instead. This avoids nasty buffer overruns and you don't need to worry about the size of the buffer either.
(Although I don't remember if std::getline includes or ignores [leaves] whitespace in the input stream.)

>> I don't remember if std::getline includes or ignores [leaves] whitespace in the input stream.
It reads in and includes all whitespace in the resulting string except for the delimiter (which is a newline by default). It reads and discards the delimiter. Basically that means that it reads and includes spaces and tabs and stops at a newline, then removes the newline from the stream.

when using strings, is the user allowed to input spaces?

By the way thank you everyone for replying, as these discussions are very helpful, as I have been reading many C++ books, but none of them talk about the problems associated with the things you all have mentioned.

With my proposed solution, then yes, it should read everything you enter, including spaces. That's why it's so convenient!