Im a newb help!

I am 15 and have been foolin around/ half ..........in with a few compilers. I am taking an actual computer programming class next year and I am really interested in it. I was wondering if any of u can help me. I have read a bunch of recommended books and I need help putting them into action.

I can do really simple basic stuff but I dont know much else.
If you could help me that would be great. If you have aim u can reach me at DragonSlayerTMO.

I just need explanation.
Thanks.

This is a really simple example of what im trying to do tell me why its not working.

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>                                        //this is just a simple
                                                                                //explanation of what it
int main()                                                                //is that I am trying to do.
{                                                                                //if any could help me that
        int a;                                                                //would be great!
                cout << "testing!" << endl;                //Basically I am trying to
                cin >> a;                                                //make it so the program does
                cout << "testing 2!" << endl;        //both functions...i think thats
                                                                                //the right word anywaz! I cant
                return a;                                                //seem to get it to work
};                                                                                //correctly. Again any help would
                                                                                //be glady appreciated!
{ // this is line 13
        int b;
        cout << "testing b!" << endl;
        cin >> b;
        cout << "testing b 2!" << endl;

        return 0;
}

/* Here is the error it gives me.
On line 13,  error c2447: missing function header*/

---

Hi there. Some advice. The message board is here for a reason. There's no reason to randomly harass people over AIM.

>If you have aim u can reach me at DragonSlayerTMO.
You should also check back here because most of us won't bother with AIM, just like we won't bother with email. These forums are for public viewing and if your problem isn't important enough for you to come back to check for replies, it isn't important enough for us to expend effort in helping. Just fair warning. :)

>tell me why its not working.
You can't have code blocks at file scope, there must be a function surrounding your code, for example:

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>

int f()
{
  int a;

  cout << "testing!" << endl;
  cin >> a;
  cout << "testing 2!" << endl;

  return f();
};

int main()
{
  int b;

  cout << "testing b!" << endl;
  cin >> b;
  cout << "testing b 2!" << endl;

  return 0;
}

---

Granted, that's convoluted, but your intentions with the posted code aren't exactly clear.

Here is another try at it, I made the things more respondable hopefully i can get some help.

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>
int main()
{
    char a;
    cout << "whats ur name?" << endl;
    cin >> a;
        cout << a << " is a good name!" << endl;
        return a;
};
int e()
{
    int b;
    cout << "How old are you?" << endl;
    cin >> b;
    cout << b << " is a good age!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

it still doesnt run the second block in the program. All it says is
whats ur name?
say that i respond John
than it says that J(not john for some reason i need ur help on this one) is a good name
then it ends program
I need help and im sorry for thinkin i can get help i guess thats too much to ask.
But then again maybe there are a thousand peope like me so it gets annoying. ANYWAZ i genuinely need help so ill do it according to ur guys "rules"

pz respond.....

>it still doesnt run the second block in the program
Because you don't call the function.

>than it says that J(not john for some reason i need ur help on this one) is a good name
Because you only ask for a single character of input.

Try this:

Code:

---

int main()
{
  char a[50];

  cout << "whats ur name?" << endl;
  cin >> a;
  cout << a << " is a good name!" << endl;
  b();

  return 0;
};

---

Just out of curiosity, what "recommended" books have you read, and did you even pay attention while you were reading them? Because both of these problems are a simple and fundamental lack of understanding that the first few chapters of just about any book would alleviate.

If you're interested in computer languages, may I recommend HTML? It's a great language that it's very useful in web programming and will teach you a lot about network architecture.

(or something...)

Lol my browser f'ed up after i had writin like 4 pages of post anywaz here it is in short
c++ for u ++ (my friend)
beginning programming for dummies (my dad's colleg's computer instructor)
3 online guides including this site
I know a bit of html
mostly i am just unfamiliar with the terms is why i get confused.

heres what i have right now

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>
int main()
{
    char a[50];
    cout << "whats ur name?" << endl;
    cin >> a;
        cout << a << " is a good name!" << endl;
        b();                                                                  //LINE 8

        return 0;
};
int e()
{
    int b;
    cout << "How old are you?" << endl;
    cin >> b;
    cout << b << " is a good age!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

errors:
line 8: error C2065: 'b' : undeclared identifier

Generally function e would be called by something other than b

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>
int main()
{
    char a[50];
    cout << "whats ur name?" << endl;
    cin >> a;
        cout << a << " is a good name!" << endl;
        e ();

        return 0;
}
int e()
{
    int b;
    cout << "How old are you?" << endl;
    cin >> b;
    cout << b << " is a good age!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

ERRORS:
error C2065: 'e' : undeclared identifier
(13) : error C2373: 'e' :
this is the new update

Put the code of the e() function above main(), or use a prototype above main:

Code:

---

int e();

---

HAAAAH!!!
I got it workin all thanks to u guys. Wow thanks. That really cleared it all up I think i get the basic structure now. Here is the workin one.

Code:

---

#include <iostream.h>
int e();
int main()
{
    char a[50];
    cout << "whats ur name?" << endl;
    cin >> a;
        cout << a << " is a good name!" << endl;
        e ();

        return 0;
}
int e()
{
    int b;
    cout << "How old are you?" << endl;
    cin >> b;
    cout << b << " is a good age!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

---

sean_mackrory why? Are you are so constructive.

>>Siggy

Make sure that you understand why was your code wrong, why you have to use char[50] instead of char, why you use int e (); before main.
Understanding why is much more important that just knowing the answer.

getche(); can also be used, if your program ends as soon as the functions are over.

#include <conio> (on borland)
#include <conio.c> (on dev and others)

Also I think your compiler has examples on this kind a program. Anyway on dev-c++ has this kind of source code.

i thought conio.h was a borland specific library

sand_man, hmm, not sure about conio.h but it does work with only conio. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sand_man

i thought conio.h was a borland specific library

---

They're not talking about including a header file, they're talking about including a .c file. A poor way to do it, but I suppose if one feels the need to mix input types... :cringe:

Quzah.

>getche(); can also be used, if your program ends as soon as the functions are over.
Let's not introduce nonstandard things when the OP is so confused with the standard ones, kay? ;)

>#include <conio> (on borland)
That would be <conio.h>.

>#include <conio.c> (on dev and others)
That's generally a bad idea. ;)

Because the idea is to compile your .c / .cpp files, and include header files. It's what I like to call "bad form". It's ugly.

Quzah.

>anybody care to tell me why including .c files is a bad idea?
.c files routinely define things, and multiple definitions are illegal. Including a .c file will probably work if you only do so once and don't define any names that it defines, but doing so is tricky and error prone and considered very bad form.

>except if you place your code inside #ifndef right?
That's akin to putting a Band-Aid over a gunshot wound. It might work, but is it really addressing the right problem?

Thank you guys. I understand what went wrong. I really appreciate all of the help and when i code some more I'll put it up if i have any problems. One problem im havin right now is this. Can if/else statements handle things such as names.

example:
If I wanted to code something that asked for somones name and have it check whether it registers with the program or not. If it does register u can continue, otherwise the program ends. I tried writing one of these but I wasnt able to get it to work at all. So I was wondering if if/else was the right thing to use. Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by XSquared

Put the code of the e() function above main(), or use a prototype above main:

Code:

---

int e();

---

---

They could have also put the prototype in main.

Quzah.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Siggy

Can if/else statements handle things such as names.

example:
If I wanted to code something that asked for somones name and have it check whether it registers with the program or not. If it does register u can continue, otherwise the program ends. I tried writing one of these but I wasnt able to get it to work at all. So I was wondering if if/else was the right thing to use. Thanks!

---

A Switch statement would be a lot better function for you to use for this task.

The most common mistake for noobies to make here is this:

Code:

---

char InputName[64];

cin >> InputName;

if (InputName=="Bennyandthejets") //This line is incorrect
    cout << "You are bennyandthejets!" << endl;
else
    cout << "I don't know you" << endl;

---

The problem with the above-marked line is that you are not comparing the content of 'InputName' with the string "Bennyandthejets". You are actually comparing the location of each element. They will never be in the same location, so the code will output "I don't know you". In order to compare the elements correctly, you need the function lstrcmpi(). It compares two strings and returns 0 if they are the same. So, this is how you rewrite the above code:

Code:

---

if (lstrcmpi(InputName,"Bennyandthejets")==0)
    cout << "You are Bennyandthejets!" << endl;
else
  // etc etc

---

So a simple way to complete your problem would be to compare the inputted string with a number of constant strings like so:

Code:

---

if (lstrcmpi(InputName,"benny")==0)
    GoIntoProgram();
if (lstrcmpi(InputName,"siggy")==0)
    GoIntoProgram();

ExitProgram();

---

So the name entered must be 'benny' or 'siggy' for the program to continue. That is a simple way of doing it. There are nicer and more complicated ways of doing it too, but you'd best save that for later.

Quote:

---

A Switch statement would be a lot better function for you to use for this task.

---

What do you base this statement on? Strings are messy with switch statements. This is how I do it:

Code:

---

#define IDS_LOAD 101
#define IDS_SAVE 102
#define IDS_QUIT 103
#define IDS_UNKNOWN 104

int ReturnStringNumber(char *TheString)
{
        if (!lstrcmpi(TheString,"load"))
                return IDS_LOAD;
        if (!lstrcmpi(TheString,"save"))
                return IDS_SAVE;
        if (!lstrcmpi(TheString,"quit"))
                return IDS_QUIT;

        return IDS_UNKNOWN;
}

int main()
{
        char InputString[64];

        cin >> InputString;

        switch (ReturnStringNumber((char *)InputString))
        {
                case IDS_LOAD:
                case IDS_SAVE:
                case IDS_QUIT:
                case IDS_UNKNOWN:
        }
                return 0;
}

---

See what I mean?

>In order to compare the elements correctly, you need the function lstrcmpi().
This isn't a standard function. As such, not all implementations are guaranteed to have it, and even if the OP's implementation does have it, the code won't be portable. On top of that, lstrcmpi has different results than might be expected due to special treatment of certain nonalphabetic characters. Better to either use strcmp, strncmp, or use the C++ string class (preferable) for now. :)

Thank you guys but I already wrote the program yesterday. You can can see the thread
" My name program" for how i did it. Any replies as to how I could have done it otherwise should go there and I would really appreciate it if you would!