passing struct pointers to make tables/files

ok im banging my head against the wall on this one....

here's the problem:

say I'm a professor and i keep a record of all my students, here is the info i keep:

first name
last name
ssn
phone numb
grades for 5 quizzes
grade for final exam
final grade average

1st thing I need to do is to make a structure with this info and here it is:

Code:

---

struct STUDENT_STRUCT
        {
                char last_name [21];
                char first_name [21];
                char social [12];
                char phone [9];
                int quiz [5];
                int final;
                int final_grade;
        };

---

Next, I need to write a function that prompts the user for all info for one student except the final grade. The problem is, that the function's only argument has to be a pointer to the structure of the type above.

I know this is probably wrong but here is the prototype, the call to the function from main, and the actual function...

Code:

---

STUDENT_STRUCT  user_prompt(STUDENT_STRUCT*);

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        cout << "\nWould you like to enter your first student's "
                << "information now?  Enter Y or N\n";
        cin.getline (response, 11);
        cin.ignore(80, '\n');

        while (toupper(*response) == 'Y')
        {
                while (row < TABLE_SIZE)
                {
                        user_prompt(&structure);
                        ++row;
                        ++count;
                        cout << "Enter another student? Enter Y or N";
                        cin.getline (response, 11);
                        cin.ignore(80, '\n');
                }
                else
                        break;
        }

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

void user_prompt (STUDENT_STRUCT* stud_ptr)
{
        int x;
       

       
        cout << "\nEnter student's last name: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.last_name, 21);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's first name: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.first_name, 21);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's social security number: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.social, 12);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's phone number: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.phone, 9);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        for (x=0;x<5;++x)
        {
                cout << "\nEnter student's grade for quiz " << x+1 << ": ";
                cin >> stud_info.quiz[x];
        }
        cout << "\nEnter the student's final exam grade: ";
        cin >> stud_info.final;

}

---

as you can see I'm already hitting brick walls thus far....

next, i ned to write a function whose only argument, once again, is a pointer to the same arguement type above(STUDENT_STRUCT), and computes the final grade of the student as follows: the final grade is 75 percent of the quiz average plus 25 percent of the final exam

finally, the program i write prompts the user to input data on as many as 25 students, which should be stored in a table. the program uses the 2 functions to load and manipulate the grades and finally spit out a report that lists the students in alphabetical order and display the quiz average, the final exam grade, and the final quiz average. Also, the program must include the option to read/write to a text file.

The problem I am having is that I don't know how to go back and forth between the functions. Since I am regulated to pointers, Im not sure i can figure out how to pass tables or parts of tables back and forth.

Anyone who can help me would be my own personal saviour. I included what i have so far in its entirety just in case you wondered how i put it together so far. Yes, this program is far from finished and it's very f*^%$ed up :(.

Code:

---

/*this program computes a final average for marketing students
using structures, pointers, and functions.*/

#include <iostream.h>
#include <iomanip.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <ctype.h>

#define TABLE_SIZE 25

struct STUDENT_STRUCT
        {
                char last_name [21];
                char first_name [21];
                char social [12];
                char phone [9];
                int quiz [5];
                int final;
                int final_grade;
        };

STUDENT_STRUCT  user_prompt                (STUDENT_STRUCT*);
int                                grade_computer        (STUDENT_STRUCT*);
int                                quiz_computer        (STUDENT_STRUCT*);

int main ()
{
       
       
        STUDENT_STRUCT        structure;
        int row = 0;
        int count = 1;
        char response[8];
       


        cout << "Welcome, Dr. Jacobs, to the marketing 101 grade "
                << "computation program.  (hit any key when ready)\n";
        cin.get();
        cin.ignore(80, '\n');
        cout << "\nWould you like to enter your first student's "
                << "information now?  Enter Y or N\n";
        cin.getline (response, 11);
        cin.ignore(80, '\n');

        while (toupper(*response) == 'Y')
        {
                while (row < TABLE_SIZE)
                {
                        user_prompt(&structure);
                        ++row;
                        ++count;
                        cout << "Enter another student? Enter Y or N";
                        cin.getline (response, 11);
                        cin.ignore(80, '\n');
                }
                else
                        break;
        }

        cout << "Final student class averages are as follows: \n\n";
        row = 0;
       
        for (row=0;row<count;++row)
        {
                stud_table[row].final_grade = grade_computer(stud_table[row]);
                stud_table[row].quiz = quiz_computer(stud_table[row]);
        }

        return 0;
}

void user_prompt (STUDENT_STRUCT* stud_ptr)
{
        int x;
       

       
        cout << "\nEnter student's last name: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.last_name, 21);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's first name: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.first_name, 21);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's social security number: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.social, 12);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        cout << "\nEnter student's phone number: ";
        cin.getline (stud_info.phone, 9);
        cin.ignore (80, '\n');
        for (x=0;x<5;++x)
        {
                cout << "\nEnter student's grade for quiz " << x+1 << ": ";
                cin >> stud_info.quiz[x];
        }
        cout << "\nEnter the student's final exam grade: ";
        cin >> stud_info.final;

}

int grade_computer (STUDENT_STRUCT* stud_ptr)
{
       

        int quiz_ave,
                quiz_total,
                q,
                final_ave;

        for (q=0,q<5,++q)
        {
                quiz_total += stud_table.quiz[q];
        }
                quiz_ave = quiz_total/(q+1);
                final_ave = ((.75)*(quiz_ave)) + ((.25)*(stud_table.final));
                return final_ave;
}

int quiz_computer (STUDENT_STRUCT* stud_ptr)
{
       

        int qquiz_ave,
                qquiz_total,
                row,
                qq;
        for (row=0,row<25,row


                for (qq=0,q<5,++qq)
                {
                        qquiz_total += stud_table[row].quiz[qq];
                }
       
        quiz_ave = qquiz_total/(q+1);
        return quiz_ave;
}

---

Do you know what constructors are?

Do you know what arrays are?

In a constructor, you could get the data and assign it to the data members, and also make the calculation for the final grade and assign it to the appropriate data member.

You can create an array of 25 student structures.

You don't seem to know how to use or define functions. Here's your declaration:

STUDENT_STRUCT user_prompt (STUDENT_STRUCT*);

Here's the function header for your definition:

void user_prompt (STUDENT_STRUCT* stud_ptr)

and they don't have the same return type. Also, stud_ptr is the function parameter, yet you don't use the parameter in your definition, and if you don't use it, you shouldn't have it as a parameter.

The harsh reality is, you don't know the basics about functions, and so this program is beyond your understanding at this time. I suggest you practice using a function that is very simple, takes no parameters, returns void, and displays a simple message like "Hello world". Practice calling it from main(). Then create a function that takes a single int parameter, returns void, and displays the argument to the screen. Practice calling that function from main(). When you can do that, try creating a function that takes an int argument, multiplies it by 2, and returns the result. Call the function from main(), and in main() display the return value.

Then move onto pointers. Try passing a pointer to a simple two member struct to a function that returns void, and in the function change both members of the struct using the pointer, and in main() display the data members of the struct to verify they were changed. After you can do those simple things, then go back to trying your current program.

the reason that the function are screwed up is because i started out trying to attack this from a different angle. I was just changing things here and there and I haven't gone back through the program to change the functions yet.

I know the basic ideas and uses of functions

return values FUNCTION_NAME (arguement, arguement)

I know that void return means nothing gets passed back to main
I know that the arguements come from the calling function