Help using const arrays in c++ classes

FlipNode · #1 30-Mar-2005, 19:46

I have looked all over the place for the answer. How do you handle const in c++ classes?
Here is my class.

CPP / C++ / C Code:

#ifndef CARDDECK_H
#define CARDDECK_H

const int numCards = 52; // total number of cards
const int numSuits = 4;  // total number of suits

const char *suit[ numSuits ] = { "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" }; 
const char *face[ numCards ] = 	
{ "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four",
  "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight",
  "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King"};

class CardDeck {

public:

	int deck[ numSuits ][ 13 ];											// array of cards
	
	CardDeck();																	// constructor
	~CardDeck();																// deconstructor
	
	void initDeck();
	void shuffle( int [][ 13 ] );												// shuffle deck of cards
	void deal( const int [][ 13 ], const char *[], const char *[] );			// deal deck of cards

}; // end CardDeck class

#include "CardDeck.cpp"
#endif

----
If I declare the *suit and *face pointer arrays as data members in the class, I get an error about static const stuff. How should I go about this? I have no idea?

nkhambal · #2 30-Mar-2005, 20:08

I guess, its because you have not initialized all the members in array "face". It is supposed to have 52 members strings, but you have initialized only 13.

If you are not sure in advance as to how many member array will have, you can have the following

CPP / C++ / C Code:


const char *suit[] = { "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" }; 
const char *face[] =   
{ "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four",
  "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight",
  "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King"};

This compiled fine for me. You can add member later as the array grows.

Thanks,

FlipNode · #3 30-Mar-2005, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkhambal

I guess, its because you have not initialized all the members in array "face". It is supposed to have 52 members strings, but you have initialized only 13.

If you are not sure in advance as to how many member array will have, you can have the following

CPP / C++ / C Code:


const char *suit[] = { "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" }; 
const char *face[] =   
{ "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four",
  "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight",
  "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King"};

This compiled fine for me. You can add member later as the array grows.

Thanks,

This is true, but my question is. How do you define a const array data member in the public: area of the class. As you see.

If i want to define

CPP / C++ / C Code:

const int = 10;

in the public: of a class I have to do it like this

CPP / C++ / C Code:

static const int = 10;

For some reason you can't do that with a pointer array?!?

Also, for you solution for not defining the size of the array, so the array can grow. That won't work b/c the array is const and you can't edit a const.

FlipNode · #4 30-Mar-2005, 20:34

This is how I would like it, so I can't create an object of the class and access the data members in the class.

CPP / C++ / C Code:

#ifndef CARDDECK_H
#define CARDDECK_H

class CardDeck {

public:

	static const int numCards = 52;											// total number of cards
	static const int numSuits = 4;											// total number of suits

	const char *suit[] = { "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" }; 		// array of suit names
	const char *face[] = { "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four",
	  					   "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight",
	 					   "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King"};
	int deck[ numSuits ][ 13 ];												// array of cards
	
	CardDeck();																// constructor
	~CardDeck();															// deconstructor
	
	void initDeck();
	void shuffle( int [][ 13 ] );											// shuffle deck of cards
	void deal( const int [][ 13 ], const char *[], const char *[] );		// deal deck of cards

}; // end CardDeck class

#include "CardDeck.cpp"
#endif

This is the error I get

Code:

error: ISO C++ forbids initializaiton of member 'suit'
error: making 'suit' static
error: invalid in-class initialization of static data member no-integral type 'const char*[0]'

I get the same error for 'face'

nkhambal · #5 30-Mar-2005, 20:48

Sorry, but I do not know about C++ syntax. I thought it was just a syntax related problem with "const char**" which got solved when I complied as a simple C program.

Hang on there, someone else might reply to your post.

Thanks,

FlipNode · #6 31-Mar-2005, 02:16

This is what I was trying to accomplish and I have fixed the problem!

http://www-h.eng.cam.ac.uk/help/tpl/languages/C++/Thinking_in_C++/tic0111.html

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Help using const arrays in c++ classes

This is how I want it

Found solution