how to initialize a new array

I am struggling with a problem about automatically initializing an array and checking if memory is available for the array.

I have created a Class that creates an array. An object of this class is created with a minimum and a maximum value (of the array).
1). I want the constructor to initialize the array, set to NULL.
2). The function 'CreateArray' must check if the array already exists before creating another one.

How can I do this?

1) Just put in the constuctor a line that says "array = NULL;" with whatever your array is called instead of "array". Also, array must be a pointer.

2) What I usually do when I try to do that is:

Code:

---

void CreteArray(int len)
{
    if(array != NULL) //if array is pointing to somewhere
      delete[] array; //delete whatever it's pointiting to

    array = new char[len]; //create the new array
}

---

change array and char to whatever suits in your case. Remember that array must be a pointer of the tipe you pass to new.

Hope this helps

Actually, the line "if(array != NULL)" is not needed -- it is legal to use delete or delete[] on a NULL pointer; the standard guarantees that this has no effect.

>>it is legal to use delete or delete[] on a NULL pointer
Well, that's at least six lines I've chopped off already from the program I'm working on and when I get my hands on some code I have at home there's gonna be some massive deleting :D

After you use delete, will the pointer automatically point to NULL or do you have to do it yourself? I always set it to NULL afterwards but I like deleting not-needed lines.

What Cat said and make sure you set "array" to "NULL" after deleting it. delete does not do this and you're going to be in trouble if you delete an already deleted object.

edit: yes Sokra, you have to set it to NULL, otherwise you'll have a lot of fun... I got some experience there :)