N00b with n00b question (probably a quick one)

Hi all,

I had a multi-paragraph introduction typed out, but I decided that it was a bit much for what is probably a really answer to a non-problem.

The question: Why is it that if I call an array simply, "array", the text turns blue? This normally happens with key words, but with this one, it doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks,

-Rob

My best guess is that it's because array is a data type in the C++11 standard library (in which case your text editor is more up-to-date than mine :p). Do words like "set", "map", and "vector" also turn blue?

EDIT:
Ah! Just found something interesting here. Visual Studio does syntax highlighting for Microsoft's C++/CLI, which includes an 'array' keyword.
In the case of Visual Studio this is as good an explanation as any. This would explain iMalc's 'event' keyword (below) being highlighted as well.

Some syntax hilighters are a bit of a catch-all. Rather than making a syntax hilighter for C, C++ and the various versions thereof, some IDEs just have one syntax hlighter and use it for everything. I often find that the word 'event' is also hilighted like a keyword in MSVC.
This forum is no different. If you post code in the C forum with a variable called 'new' in it, then it is also hilighted like a keyword.
My advice is to simply not use those variable names if you want your code to look right in the IDE.

Thanks for you answers. It doesn't seem to cause any problems if I call an array "array" even though the word turns blue, but it is confusing to look at. I'll take your advice and call them anything but that.

Now I have for you another question. It too probably has a very simple solution, but I can't figure out what's happening with this code.

The program I'm writing (for a school assignment) should do the following things:
1) Ask the user how many scores they would like to calculate (grades, average, smallest, largest)*
2) Get a number of scores from the user
3) Display the results

It's a pretty basic program and I'm sure that most (if not all) of you have done it before. So here's the problem code:

Code:

---

for (int i=0; i<num_scores; i++)
    {
            cout << "Enter a score (or -1 if no more result): \n";
            cin >> input;

            if (input > 100)
            {
                cout << "Please enter a score between 0 and 100: ";
                cin >> input;
                i--;
            }

            else if (input = -1)
                break;

            else (input != -1 && input <= 100);
            {
                sum++;
                scores[i] = input;    //put scores into array
            }
    }

---

The running program allows me to enter a single score before I get the "Press any key..." message. However, when I commented-out the else if statement, the program worked perfectly. I'm guessing that the problem is with the break statement. My understanding is that you can use the break statement to exit a loop when a particular condition is met (in this case, when input = -1). But, it seemed to be breaking from the loop even when -1 was not entered.

*Note: The assignment sheet actually does not say that we have to do this. It is kind of vague: "You assume that there will be no more than 10 results (i.e. the user can enter 3 results, 6 results or a maximum of 10 results)". I realized just before writing the above paragraph that the -1 to exit (or sentinel, right?) is not necessary.

Once again, thank you for baring with me.

> else if (input = -1)
There is a difference between = and ==

> else (input != -1 && input <= 100);
The final else has no condition - this line shouldn't even compile.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salem

>
> else (input != -1 && input <= 100);
The final else has no condition - this line shouldn't even compile.

---

It can compile:

Code:

---

else
    (input != -1 && input <= 100);
{ // block, which always executes
    sum++;
    scores[i] = input;
}

---

The semicolon might throw the compiler off... interesting.

Bizarre.
Not only does it compile, I can't get g++ to complain about an unused expression.

I have to write the even more unpromising
else input != -1 && input <= 100;
to get a
foo.cpp:27: warning: statement has no effect

The only thing that matters is the ;, making it an empty statement. The rest is just vapour.

I actually figured out the problem before returning to check for replies. :) Or perhaps more accurately, I figured out a working solution. That section of code now looks like this:

Code:

---


for (int i=0; i<num_scores; i++)        //for loop gets scores and puts them into the array
      {
                    cout << "Enter score (or -1 to end program): ";
                    cin >> input;
 
                    if (input > 100 || input < -1)
                    {
                          cout << "Please enter a score between 0 and 100: ";
                          i--;
                    }
                    else if (input != -1 && input <= 100)
                    {
                            sum += input;
                          scores[i] = input;                //put scores into array
                    }
                    else
                          exit(0);                                //input of -1 ends the program
      }

---