Using 'if' with char arrays or string objects

How do you use the if statement with char arrays or a string object? Here is the code I have now but it doesnt' seem to work and I think I've heard somewhere that you can't use 'if' with anything more than one character. If not, then what do you use?

Code:

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        if(hang.spaces==hang.word)
        {
                MessageBox(NULL, "You Won!", hang.word, MB_OK);
                hang.loopvar=false;
        }

---

Other than that, my hangman "engine" is pretty much done and when I finish learning Win32 API I'm going to port it to that. Thx 4 all your help, and this is probably my last question... I hope

Code:

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if(strcmp(String1, String2) == 0)
{
  cout << "The strings are equal!";
}

---

The question shouldn't be if you can use if, rather, can you use == to compare strings.

You can't use == to compare char*, (well, you can, but it's going to test for identity rather than equality, not something you want). However, you can use strcmp from <cstring>, it returns 0 if two strings are the same. That said, I'd recommenend learning how to use the

Code:

---

#include <cstring>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    char s[] = "hello";
    if (strcmp(s, "hello")==0)  cout << s << " equals " << hello << endl;
    else cout << "not equal" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

That said, using the string class is so much easier and less error prone than char* for strings, as it supports the operators you are used to for comparasion and assignment from the native types.

Code:

---

#include <string>  // notice, no c
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    string s = "hello";
    if (s == "hello")  cout << s << " equals hello" << endl;
    else cout << "not equal" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

It won't let me use 'string' in the clss

You need to use http://www.cprogramming.com/fod/strcmp.html

Quote:

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Originally posted by c++_n00b
It won't let me use 'string' in the clss

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Why not ..
Each of the codes that these guys wrote is great...
Why you can't use strings? Can you tell us...

yeah, actually i can tell you. It gives me about 26 or so errors :(. Is that a pretty good reason? It still isn't working right for me though and btw I'm using Visual C++ 6.0.

For example, when I make my class like this:

Code:

---

extern struct hangman
{
        bool loopvar;
        string word;
        int length;
        char letter;
        char* spaces;

        hangman();
        ~hangman();

        void LoopProgram();
        void PickWord();
        void BlankSpaces();
        void Guess();
        void Check();
}hang;

---

I get this

Code:

---

--------------------Configuration: Hangman - Win32 Debug--------------------
Compiling...
Hangman.cpp
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'word'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2501: 'string' : missing storage-class or type specifiers
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2501: 'word' : missing storage-class or type specifiers
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(15) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(50) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(53) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(56) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(59) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(62) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(65) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(68) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(71) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(74) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(77) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(80) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(83) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(86) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(89) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(92) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(95) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(126) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(133) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.cpp(135) : error C2039: 'word' : is not a member of 'hangman'
        c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(2) : see declaration of 'hangman'
Main.cpp
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'word'
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2501: 'string' : missing storage-class or type specifiers
c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\myprojects\hangman\hangman.h(4) : error C2501: 'word' : missing storage-class or type specifiers
Error executing cl.exe.

Hangman.exe - 26 error(s), 0 warning(s)

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I hope this can tell you why I can't use 'string' in my class NANO. Thx 4 all those who have tried 2 help though I appreciate it.

ok try :

Code:

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#include<string.h>

---

That will let you use string

um... that won't work in a header file. Thx anywayz though :)

... *sigh*...

Again. WHY won't that work in a header file? Is your compiler not letting you import files? What?

ok, why exactly the extern declaration? Is this struct being defined in a seperate file from your main file? If so is the string header associated with that file?

well, before I was having problems linking the two files (hangman.h and hangman.cpp) so someone told me to use 'extern' and then define 'struct hangman hang;' in the hangman.cpp file. And yes, <string.h> is included in hangman.cpp. So what am i doing wrong?

here's the complete code so you guys don't have to wonder what i have in it anymore

main.cpp

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <windows.h>
#include <string.h>
#include "Hangman.h"

using namespace std;

int main()
{
        cout<<"|-| /-\\ |\\| G |\\/| /-\\ |\\|"<<endl;

        hang.LoopProgram();

        return 0;
}

---

hangman.cpp

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <windows.h>
#include "Hangman.h"

struct hangman hang;


//Hangman Constructor
hangman::hangman()
{
        hang.loopvar=true;

        hang.PickWord();
        hang.length=strlen(hang.word);

        hang.spaces = new char[ hang.length ];
        for(short x=0; x<hang.length; x++)
        {
                spaces[x]='_';
        }
}

//Hangman Destructor
hangman::~hangman()
{
        delete[] spaces;
}

//Function that loops the program until told to stop
void hangman::LoopProgram()
{
        while(hang.loopvar!=false)
        {
                hang.BlankSpaces();
                hang.Guess();
                hang.Check();
        }
}

//Function that picks a random word
void hangman::PickWord()
{
        srand(GetTickCount());
        short random=rand()%15;
       
        switch(random)
        {
        case 0:
                strcpy(hang.word, "corndog");
                break;
        case 1:
                strcpy(hang.word, "computer");
                break;
        case 2:
                strcpy(hang.word, "telephone");
                break;
        case 3:
                strcpy(hang.word, "electric");
                break;
        case 4:
                strcpy(hang.word, "stereo");
                break;
        case 5:
                strcpy(hang.word, "oreo");
                break;
        case 6:
                strcpy(hang.word, "microphone");
                break;
        case 7:
                strcpy(hang.word, "cat");
                break;
        case 8:
                strcpy(hang.word, "moose");
                break;
        case 9:
                strcpy(hang.word, "internet");
                break;
        case 10:
                strcpy(hang.word, "cow");
                break;
        case 11:
                strcpy(hang.word, "potato");
                break;
        case 12:
                strcpy(hang.word, "card");
                break;
        case 13:
                strcpy(hang.word, "oven");
                break;
        case 14:
                strcpy(hang.word, "speakers");
                break;
        default:
                strcpy(hang.word, "earthquake");
        }
}

//Function that draws all of the spaces
void hangman::BlankSpaces()
{
        for(short x=0; x<hang.length; x++)
        {
                system("cls");
                cout<<spaces[x]<<" ";
        }

}

//Function that gets the user's guess
void hangman::Guess()
{
        cout<<endl<<"What's your guess?: ";
        cin>>hang.letter;
}

//Function that checks to see if the letter is in the word, if the word is complete, or the... man is hanged
//or however you want to put it. Also adds another number to the NumGuesses variable.

void hangman::Check()

{
        //Check to see if letter guess is in word
        for(short x=0;x<hang.length;x++)
        {
                if(hang.word[x]==hang.letter)
                {
                        hang.spaces[x]=hang.letter;
                }
        }

        //Check to see if the word is complete
        if(strcmp(hang.spaces,hang.word)==0)
        {
                MessageBox(NULL, "You Won!", hang.word, MB_OK);
                hang.loopvar=false;
        }
}

---

hangman.h

Code:

---

extern struct hangman
{
        bool loopvar;
        char word[10];
        int length;
        char letter;
        char* spaces;

        hangman();
        ~hangman();

        void LoopProgram();
        void PickWord();
        void BlankSpaces();
        void Guess();
        void Check();
}hang;

---

Hope this helps... oh wait, I'm the one who needs help here. NM...

I'm sorry, I really don't know. I copied the entire prog you posted into all the seperate files you specified and it compiled fine for me.
Are you sure you have all your include files?

no, the code I posted does compile fine. It's jsut that when I add <string.h> and change char word[10] to string word it gives me all of those errors.