Newbie needs help, shouldnt be hard

Ok im new and starting on my first task. I want to create a sound player. I have most of the coding finished (I think) and use windows and devcpp but first i have a few questions. 1. Can i use a different thing besides that black backround. 2. In the tutorials it only shows the command 'int' but it never teaches how to make a like word variable... say like i want it so when i type in "rock" it takes me to the menu instead of a number..
Ok so first i had it to here....

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  int rock;

  cout<<"Hello welcome to My Custom Radio.\n" "Please type the number of whatever music you would like to listen to today\n" "\n" "1 = rock\n" "2 = metal\n" "3 = Techno\n" "\n";
  cin>> rock;
  cin.ignore();
  if ( rock == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Rock, Please choose a song to listen to:  \n" "\n" "1. Crazy Train\n" "2. IronMan\n" "3. Black Parade\n" "4. Numb\n" "\n" ;
  }
  if ( rock == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Metal, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Teenagers\n" "2. In the End\n" "3. Killing in the name of\n" "4. Gonna Die\n" "\n" ;
  }
  if ( rock == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Techno songs, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Around the World 1\n" "2. Around the World 2\n" "3. popcorn1\n" "4. loop3\n" "\n" ;
  }
  cin.get();
}

---

Then i tried to make it so when you clicked the number after the second menu it says "Enjoy your music!" But when i click the number after the second menu it just closes...

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  int rock;

  int rock1;
 
  cout<<"Hello welcome to My Custom Radio.\n" "Please type the number of whatever music you would like to listen to today\n" "\n" "1 = rock\n" "2 = metal\n" "3 = Techno\n" "\n";
  cin>> rock;
  cin.ignore();
  if ( rock == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Rock, Please choose a song to listen to:  \n" "\n" "1. Crazy Train\n" "2. IronMan\n" "3. Black Parade\n" "4. Numb\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock1;
  } 
  if (rock1 == 1) {
  cout<<"\n" "Please enjoy your music";
  }
  if ( rock == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Metal, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Teenagers\n" "2. In the End\n" "3. Killing in the name of\n" "4. Gonna Die\n" "\n" ;
  }
  if ( rock == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Techno songs, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Around the World 1\n" "2. Around the World 2\n" "3. popcorn1\n" "4. loop3\n" "\n" ;
  }
  cin.get();
}

---

Like i said it just fades away after the second menu...

1) Yes, you can color the background if you want with platform APIs. If you don't want the black block but something real, you need GUI programming, which is an entirely different area, which is difficult.
2) Use std::string to make a variable hold a string.
3) Every read with cin >> to an integer will leave junk in the input buffer.
So after each cin >> to an integer, add cin.ignore.

cool so i got the third menu working because i forgot the cin.ignore but i dont get what you mean use the std thing... can you example it please? Also I added music to it but i found out only i can hear it because i specified it to a folder or something, is there a way to upload the song into the compiler so when it compiles it the song is added into the project? Last question... how do i make it go back like...
1 = rock
2 = metal
3 = techno
4 = back

Heres what i got so far.. all im missing is music... a back function...and possibly the word string thing

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  int rock;

  int rock2;
 
  int rock3;

  int rock1;
 
  cout<<"Hello welcome to My Custom Radio.\n" "Please type the number of whatever music you would like to listen to today\n" "\n" "1 = rock\n" "2 = metal\n" "3 = Techno\n" "\n";
  cin>> rock;
  cin.ignore();
  if ( rock == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Rock, Please choose a song to listen to:  \n" "\n" "1. Crazy Train\n" "2. IronMan\n" "3. Black Parade\n" "4. Numb\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock1;
  cin.ignore();
  } 
  if ( rock1 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Metal, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Teenagers\n" "2. In the End\n" "3. Killing in the name of\n" "4. Gonna Die\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock2;
  cin.ignore();
  } 
  if ( rock2 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Techno songs, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Around the World 1\n" "2. Around the World 2\n" "3. popcorn1\n" "4. loop3\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock3;
  cin.ignore();
  }
  if ( rock3 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  cin.get();
}

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by midget

...but i dont get what you mean use the std thing... can you example it please?

---

std::string can be treated as a type which holds a string.
Such as

std::string s;
cin >> s;
if (s == "rock") // do something

Quote:

---

Also I added music to it but i found out only i can hear it because i specified it to a folder or something, is there a way to upload the song into the compiler so when it compiles it the song is added into the project?

---

You can't without complex stuff and methods. Best avoid that until you got a solid ground for playing sounds (are you using an API of sorts?).

Quote:

---

Last question... how do i make it go back like...
1 = rock
2 = metal
3 = techno
4 = back

---

You use a loop (see the tutorials on the site).

Several ifs like you have can be compacted into a switch (see tutorials, if there is one).

ok thanks, for the music idk what API is.... ill just zip the files with the radio and send that to my friends if its too compilcated to compile the music with it or whatever

EDITTED: uh oh, another problem, In the code for anything i type it goes straight to "rock" even when i type metal or techno and i cant figure out why. and the loops function and switch functions are really complicated (for me)but ill keeptryin to shove it in my head lol

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  std::string r;
 
  int rock2;
 
  int rock3;

  int rock1;
 
  cout<<"Hello welcome to My Custom Radio.\n" "Please choose the kind of music you would like to listen to today\n" "\n" "1 = rock\n" "2 = metal\n" "3 = Techno\n" "\n";
  cin>> r;
  cin.ignore();
  if ( r == "rock", 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Rock, Please choose a song to listen to:  \n" "\n" "1. Crazy Train\n" "2. IronMan\n" "3. Black Parade\n" "4. Numb\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock1;
  cin.ignore();
  } 
  if ( rock1 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock1 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( r == "metal", 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Metal, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Teenagers\n" "2. In the End\n" "3. Killing in the name of\n" "4. Gonna Die\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock2;
  cin.ignore();
  } 
  if ( rock2 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock2 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( r == "techno", 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "You have chosen Techno songs, Please choose a song to listen to: \n" "\n" "1. Around the World 1\n" "2. Around the World 2\n" "3. popcorn1\n" "4. loop3\n" "\n" ;
  cin>> rock3;
  cin.ignore();
  }
  if ( rock3 == 1 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 2 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 3 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  if ( rock3 == 4 ) {
  cout<<"\n" "Sit back, relax, and enjoy your music!";
  }
  cin.get();
}
[\CODE]

---

if ( r == "rock", 1 ) {
^ That's not right. What are you trying to do?

im trying to make it so when they type either rock or 1 it goes to the menu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by midget

im trying to make it so when they type either rock or 1 it goes to the menu

---

I think what you want is

if((r == "rock") || (r == "1"))


Something along those lines. The || is the OR operator.


And yeah, loops and switches can be a little complicated at first if this is your first foray into the logical thinking required for coding, but the good news is they get pretty easy very quickly, and they're immensely useful.

In C++, you can't say if A is equal to X or Y, instead you must say if A is equal to X or A is equal to Y.
Plus you need to learn to disambiguate types. 1 is an integer and an integer is not a string, so an integer can never be stored in a string. If the user would enter something, it is always stored as a string. After that, it is then stored inside the variable of your choice. If that variable is not a string, then the data is converted, if it can.

ok so all i need now is the loop thing and is the switch thing like required or can i just learn that later? (please example of looping back)

If you want your program to continue asking after playing, you need to learn loops.
Switches will simplify and reduce the amount of code.

Look, a lesson on loops!