Problems with switch()

Don't Laugh!!!
I've been trying doing some work with the switch structure and I have run into some problems. I'm wondering, is it possible to work with this or should I just do it with an if structure.
Here is the section below.
The problem arises as soon as the compiler reaches case '10'. Is it possible to overcome this?

Code:

switch(result) { case '1': fputs(station1, stdout); break; case '2': fputs(station2, stdout); break; case '3': fputs(station3, stdout); break; case '4': puts(station4, stdout); break; case '5': fputs(station5, stdout); break; case '6': fputs(station6, stdout); break; case '7': fputs(station7, stdout); break; case '8': fputs(station8, stdout); break; case '9': fputs(station9, stdout); break; case "10": fputs(station10, stdout); break; case '11': fputs(station11, stdout); break; case '12': fputs(station12, stdout); break; case '13': fputs(station13, stdout); break; case '14': fputs(station14, stdout); break; case '15': fputs(station15, stdout); break; case '16': fputs(station16, stdout); break; case '17': fputs(station17, stdout); break; case '18': fputs(station18, stdout); break; case '19': fputs(station19, stdout); break; case '20': fputs(station20, stdout); break; case '21': fputs(station21, stdout); break; case '22': fputs(station22, stdout); break; case '23': fputs(station23, stdout); break; case '24': fputs(station24, stdout); break; case '25': fputs(station25, stdout); break; case '26': fputs(station26, stdout); break; }

Code:

case '11':

This is not a character: '11'.

You can't use a switch with strings.

Try a board search of some keywords: "switch strings".

[edit]Ever consider first converting the index and then using an array for station?

Thanks for the advice Dave. However, I think I should have also mentioned that I'm a beginner. "Board search?" This is the first time I hearing about it. What is it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by duvernais28

Thanks for the advice Dave. However, I think I should have also mentioned that I'm a beginner. "Board search?" This is the first time I hearing about it. What is it?

It's one of those hyperlinked bits of text on many pages:
http://cboard.cprogramming.com/search.php

The FAQ may also be very useful.

hello duvernais, welcome to the boards. I'm not sure if result is of type int, if it is you should be able to do cases of any constant; also, drop the single quotes surrounding the constants.

> "Board search?" This is the first time I hearing about it. What is it?

on top of each page at these forums you have a "search" link; press it, and explore :) there is also a search textbox at the bottom of each forum, you can use that to search for info in that specific forum only.

Thanks guys.
Axon, result is actually a long, I am doing this operation after using the strtol() function. I'll follow your advise and see what comes up. Thanks again guys.

> result is actually a long

doesn't matter; drop the single quotes and it'll work fine.

case '4':
puts(station4, stdout);
Why is this one puts, and the rest are fputs?

Also, this is just begging to be an array, as in

Code:

fputs( station[result], stdout );

Thanks alot Salem. I've already made the correction. Yes you're right, the stations are actually string arrays. I have already defined them all. " Result" actually coincides with the cases.

I've gone through my code and I don't think the problem was really with switch(). I havent figured out what it is though. Here's the code.

Code:

#include <stdio.h> #include <conio.h> #include <ctype.h> #include <stdlib.h> void main(void) { int *p; long result; char code[BUFSIZ]; char station1[] = "(1) Gros Islet Station (GR)"; char station2[] = "(2) Central Police Station (CPS)"; char station3[] = "(3) Marchand Police Station (MA)"; char station4[] = "(4) La Caye Police Station (LC)"; char station5[] = "(5) Dennery Police Station (DE)"; char station6[] = "(6) Micoud Police Station (MI)"; char station7[] = "(7) Vieux Fort Police station (VX)"; char station8[] = "(8) Choiseul Police Station (CH)"; char station9[] = "(9) Soufriere Police Station (SU)"; char station10[] = "(10) Canaries Police station (CN)"; char station11[] = "(11) Anse La Raye Police Station (AN)"; char station12[] = "(12) Marigot Police Station (MB)"; char station13[] = "(13) Police Headquaters (PHQ)"; char station14[] = "(14) Criminal Investigations Department (CID)"; char station15[] = "(15) Criminal Records Office (CRO)"; char station16[] = "(16) Traffic Unit (TU)"; char station17[] = "(17) Immigration Department (IMM)"; char station18[] = "(18) Community Relations Branch (CRB)"; char station19[] = "(19) Special Branch (SB)"; char station20[] = "(20) Complaints Unit (CU)"; char station21[] = "(21) Police Motor Pool (PMP)"; char station22[] = "(22) Drug Squad (DS)"; char station23[] = "(23) Police Training School (PTS)"; char station24[] = "(24) Special Services Unit (SSU)"; char station25[] = "(25) Police Control Room (PCR)"; char station26[] = "(26) Police Marine unit (PMU)"; fputs("Department Code (1-26): ", stdout); fgets(code, sizeof(code), stdin); fflush(stdin); result = strtol(code, &p, 10); if(code[0] != '\n' && (*p == '\n' || *p == '\0')) { if(result < 1) { fputs("! Error: Out of Range(1-26). Press Enter to continue", stdout); fflush(stdin); getchar(); clrscr(); main(); } else if(result > 26) { fputs("! Error: Out of Range(1-26). Press Enter to continue", stdout); fflush(stdin); getchar(); clrscr(); main(); } else { clrscr(); getchar(); switch(result) { case 1: fputs(station1, stdout); break; case 2: fputs(station2, stdout); break; case 3: fputs(station3, stdout); break; case 4: fputs(station4, stdout); break; case 5: fputs(station5, stdout); break; case 6: fputs(station6, stdout); break; case 7: fputs(station7, stdout); break; case 8: fputs(station8, stdout); break; case 9: fputs(station9, stdout); break; case 10: fputs(station10, stdout); break; case 11: fputs(station11, stdout); break; case 12: fputs(station12, stdout); break; case 13: fputs(station13, stdout); break; case 14: fputs(station14, stdout); break; case 15: fputs(station15, stdout); break; case 16: fputs(station16, stdout); break; case 17: fputs(station17, stdout); break; case 18: fputs(station18, stdout); break; case 19: fputs(station19, stdout); break; case 20: fputs(station20, stdout); break; case 21: fputs(station21, stdout); break; case 22: fputs(station22, stdout); break; case 23: fputs(station23, stdout); break; case 24: fputs(station24, stdout); break; case 25: fputs(station25, stdout); break; case 26: fputs(station26, stdout); break; } } } else { fputs("Invalid input. Please enter a number.", stdout); fflush(stdin); getchar(); clrscr(); main(); } }

what it the problem you are encountering? it compile and runs fine for me (except that 'p' should be a char* - not an int*). also, as Salem suggested, you could use an array like this:

Code:

int main(void) { char *p; long result; char code[BUFSIZ]; char * stations[] = { "(1) Gros Islet Station (GR)", "(2) Central Police Station (CPS)", "(3) Marchand Police Station (MA)", "(4) La Caye Police Station (LC)", "(5) Dennery Police Station (DE)", "(6) Micoud Police Station (MI)", "(7) Vieux Fort Police station (VX)", "(8) Choiseul Police Station (CH)", "(9) Soufriere Police Station (SU)", "(10) Canaries Police station (CN)", "(11) Anse La Raye Police Station (AN)", "(12) Marigot Police Station (MB)", "(13) Police Headquaters (PHQ)", "(14) Criminal Investigations Department (CID)", "(15) Criminal Records Office (CRO)", "(16) Traffic Unit (TU)", "(17) Immigration Department (IMM)", "(18) Community Relations Branch (CRB)", "(19) Special Branch (SB)", "(20) Complaints Unit (CU)", "(21) Police Motor Pool (PMP)", "(22) Drug Squad (DS)", "(23) Police Training School (PTS)", "(24) Special Services Unit (SSU)", "(25) Police Control Room (PCR)", "(26) Police Marine unit (PMU)" }; for(;;) { fputs("Department Code (1-26): ", stdout); fgets(code, sizeof(code), stdin); result = strtol(code, &p, 10); if(code[0] != '\n' && (*p == '\n' || *p == '\0')) { if(result < 1 || result > 26) { fputs("! Error: Out of Range(1-26). Press Enter to continue", stdout); getchar(); clrscr(); continue; } fputs(stations[result-1], stdout); } break; } return 0; }

That ought to be
const char * stations[] = ...

And ideally, it would be loaded from a resource file.

>> That ought to be const char * stations[] = ...

good point. :)

Thanks alot guys. My knowledge of pointers is very limited. It would have taken me quite a long time to figure this out. Thanks again.