using switch with strings

is there a way to use the switch statement with strings...like....

Code:

---

std::string blah;

switch (blah)

{
case "happy": std::cout << "happy" << endl;
break;
}

---

sorry if my code is wrong...i havent use switch statements much and i am at school with no compiler to check my syntax...
help is appreciated....


thanks

no, switch must have constant numbers, string compares are not possible like that. You have to do string compares in an if block.

if(!strcmp(str,"blah"))
...
..else if (!strcmp(str,"you"))
...


etc.

There are other more complex ways but this'll do it for you.

An addendum to Fill's response, switch statements take 'integral' types. Since char's are also 'integral' data types, you can use those as well:

Code:

---

switch (x)
{
case 'a':      whatever;
              break;
case 1:        something else;
              break;
case char(13): more code; // non-portable
              break;
:
:
default:      break;
}

---

-Skipper

just to kind of add to what skipper said, chars can be represented by decimal value and mean the same thing. If you are interested in knowing what their values are check out:
www.asciitable.com
I hope you find that interesting

Very cool! Thanks.

Frankly, I should have been more clear. ASCII is not portable, therefore, sticking with the C++ standard characters is something that you'll want to adhere to.

(Did "bookmark" Shadow12345's link, though. :))

-Skipper