char variable type

Hello!
I'm writing a program right now that takes your name and some others names and puts them in a story that makes fun of you...

anyway,

Code:

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.......
char name;
........
cout << "Please enter your first name:" << endl;
cin >> name;
.........
........
........

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When I enter a name, it only takes the first letter of it, how can I make it take the whole name ?

thanks!

char is only a 1-character data type.

You can use std::string from <string> (recommended):

std::string name;
cin >> name;

or you can use character arrays:

char name[32];
cin.get(name, 32); // Prevents buffer overflow.
cin.sync();

Thanks man, you've been helpful!:)

>>cin.get(name, 32); // Prevents buffer overflow.
>>cin.sync();
A word on sync with istream.
I never get it to work correct with the cygwin port of gcc,so it seems not to be portable.
And this thread on comp.lang.c++ agrees

Quote:

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The sole purpose of 'sync()' is to bring the
internal and the external view of a stream into synchronization. Typically
this means to flush an output buffer. Often, this does not touch an input
buffer at all although a stream buffer might bring the internal input
buffer into synchronization with the external view if this has changed,
eg. due to another program modifying a file.

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