trouble initializing a dynamic array of pointers to NULL

I have created a dynamic array of pointers to structures as shown below. I am trying to initialize them all to NULL but I keep getting errors. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std; // So the program can see cout and endl

struct Window{
      int handle;
      bool test;
};

Window * Array = new Window[260];

int main()
{
 
  for ( int x = 0; x < 260; x++ ) {
      Array[x] = NULL; 
      cout<< x <<endl;
  }
  cin.get();
}

---

The error I get is: 16 no match for 'operator=' in '*((+(((unsigned int)x) * 8u)) + Array) = 0'

The problem is that you do not have a dynamic array of pointers. You have a pointer to the first element of a dynamic array of Window objects.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by laserlight

The problem is that you do not have a dynamic array of pointers. You have a pointer to the first element of a dynamic array of Window objects.

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Ahhhh! You're right. I should have done

Window ** Array = new Window*[260];

Sheesh, I've been staring at my computer too long. Now the variable Array is a pointer to a dynamic array of pointers to structs of Windows, correct? Does this mean that if I want to get a struct data member at a particular index I have to call Array[index]->test?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by supernater

I should have done

Window ** Array = new Window*[260];

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It could well be even better to #include <vector> and make Array a local variable in the global main function with:

Code:

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std::vector<Window*> Array(260, 0);

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by supernater

Now the variable Array is a pointer to a dynamic array of pointers to structs of Windows, correct?

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Yes, though more accurately it is a pointer to the first pointer of a dynamic array of pointers to Window objects.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by supernater

Does this mean that if I want to get a struct data member at a particular index I have to call Array[index]->test?

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Yes, if test is what you want to access, and assuming that Array[index] is a valid Window object.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by supernater

Ahhhh! You're right. I should have done

Window ** Array = new Window*[260];

Sheesh, I've been staring at my computer too long. Now the variable Array is a pointer to a dynamic array of pointers to structs of Windows, correct? Does this mean that if I want to get a struct data member at a particular index I have to call Array[index]->test?

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Yes, that is correct. Of course you'd need to allocate an item to position 'index' before that code could be run.

Don't forget to use delete Array[index] for all allocated items, and delete[] Array; afterwards too.

I believe to declare a dynamic array, we'd do something like this:

Code:

---

    ...
    Window * dynamicArray;
    dynamicArray = new Window[some int here];
    //Be sure to check that the array could be created
    ...

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Then, if we were to access the test member at index i, I believe it would be dynamicArray[i].test.

I would use a std::vector as laserlight suggested, but if you still feel like using raw pointers, you can use std::fill() to set them all to NULL.

Vectors are very good for dynamic arrays. It's basically what they were built for.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zach_the_Lizard

I believe to declare a dynamic array, we'd do something like this:

Code:

---

    ...
    Window * dynamicArray;
    dynamicArray = new Window[some int here];
    //Be sure to check that the array could be created
    ...

---

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There is no need to check if the array is created, unless there is some special low memory action you wish to take. And if you do check, then you need a try catch block, which you do not show. When fails to allocate memory it throwx an exception, which will cause a clean exit if it is never caught. There is an alternate version of new that does not throw, but has a special syntax.