Treating Types Of Data (Static Cast?)

Hi. I was wondering how you would treat an array, with type char such as if it was year[5], in which the data that it is entered is treated as categorical data and not quantitative data. I think you use static_cast but I am not sure how to do that. Thanks a bunch!

Are you asking about associative arrays? If so, check out std::map

Well. Maybe, I dont know that seems beyond my knowledge right now.

Whenever I am inputting a string into an array and the input is numbers (such as years), it seems to skip all the other user prompts for the other variables as if to solve the problem you would need to cin.ignore something.

But when I make the variable years[5] into just int years, it seems to work. I dont know why.

I think I know what you're asking but I'm still not sure.

If you post some code to illustrate your question I'm sure it could be answered in no time. :)

I suppose you hit a roadblock such as:

Code:

---

int x[5];
cin >> x[0];
cin >> x[1];
cin >> x[2];
cin >> x[3];
cin >> x[4];

---

It would read one, maybe two, and skip the rest.
This is due to how cin >> works. It's evil implementation leaves newlines that cannot be converted to an integral value in the input buffer.
On the next line, cin >> will sense something in the buffer and try to read it, but fails, and follows like that.
The solution is to use cin.ignore() or read into a string with std::getline and the convert to an integral value using stringstreams.

Of course, there's no problem with what Elysia posted -- when trying to read integers and floats and the like, a new-line at the start of the input is no problem whatsoever. It's only when you try to read in a single character that you get a problem, because C++ thinks that a new-line character is a character (because, well, it is). So if you actually have to read in character-at-a-time, then you have to be more careful. (Note that the example you gave doesn't apply: you should have std::string year, and then cin >> year would do exactly what you want.)

I'm a bit rusty on exactly when it leaves stuff in the input buffer, but at least it points out that it happens sometimes and can be problematic. Using std::getline will get rid of that problem entirely.

Ahh yes where's my manners. Code, yes:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <conio.h>
using namespace std;

char model[20];
char make[20];

int get_int(int default_value){
        char s[81];
        cin.getline(s, 80);
        if (strlen(s) == 0)
                return default_value;
        return atoi(s);
}
int main()
{
        char filename[81];
        int mileage;
        int recsize = sizeof(int) + sizeof(model) + sizeof(make) + sizeof(int);
        int recnumber;
        int year;

        //Filename
        cout << "Enter a filename: ";
        cin.getline(filename, 80);

        //Open File for binary read and write
        fstream fbin(filename, ios::binary | ios::in | ios::out);
        if (!fbin) {
                cout << "Error. File Could Not Be Opened!" << endl;
                return -1;
        }

        //Record Number
        cout << "Enter File Record Number: ";
        cin >> recnumber;
        cin.ignore(100, '\n');
        //Record User Input.
       
        cout << "What is the model? ";
        cin.getline(model, 19);

        cout << "What is the make? ";
        cin.getline(make, 19);

        cout << "What is the year? ";
        year = get_int(0);

        cout << "What is the mileage? ";
        mileage = get_int(0);

        fbin.seekp(recnumber * recsize);
        fbin.write(model, 20);
        fbin.write(make, 20);
        fbin.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&year), sizeof(int));
        fbin.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&mileage), sizeof(int));
        fbin.close();
        _getch();

}

---

I've had to replace those in Red With

Code:

---

char Year[5]
...
cin.getline(Year, 4)

---

^^If I used those instead of the red bolded things on the code. My Following Output Would Occur.

Code:

---

Enter A Filename: (I inserted File Name, Not Important)
Enter File Record Number 2:
What is the model? 2600GTS (Making It Up)
What is the make? Ford
What is the year? 1900
What is the mileage? (AFTER I PRESS A NUMBER, PROGRAM CLOSES)

---

I think this is due to when inputting 1900, it went to mileage aswell. I think this is like a case of user inputting a string, and then pressing enter, then a user should input another string for another variable, but it assumed enter was it. That's why cin.ignore was used for that. However it is different for here.

You're using cin.getline, which is bad. You must stop thinking C. There's a much better way in C++.
And it's called... std::getline. It takes an std::string and the input stream (cin). Then you don't have to worry about buffer overruns or any leftover characters in the input stream.

HOLD UP. I FOUND OUT WHY.

My array for Year for some reason needed to be size 6. (Maybe enter was included THEN the Null).

Edit: Well I said this before your post. I am only still learning from the "C++ Without Fear" Book, so whatever. Thanks!!!

Stuck characters in the input buffer. Again, avoid by using std::getline. Don't use cin.getline and avoid char like the plague.