Some pointer problems

[Garrador]

Ok, this is the code, and how I want it to work:

Code: Select all

const char *m_pszFirstName;
const char *m_pszMiddleName;
const char *m_pszLastName;
const char *m_pszFullName;

const char *GetFullName()
{
   // TODO: Need to get First, middle and last name
   //            into pszFullName
   return m_pszFullName;
}

There is a draft of the class. My problem lies here.
I need to get the first, middle and last name into fullname. It's obviously not possible to add them like this:
fullname = first + middle + last; since it's adresses, but how would I go about "loading" the fullname pointer with the adresses of the other three so it makes out the whole name in one pointer?

Hoping for swift answers! =)
Gar

[zombie@computer]

Ok, this is the code, and how I want it to work:

Code: Select all

const char *m_pszFirstName;
const char *m_pszMiddleName;
const char *m_pszLastName;
const char *m_pszFullName;

const char *GetFullName()
{
   // TODO: Need to get First, middle and last name
   //            into pszFullName
   return m_pszFullName;
}

There is a draft of the class. My problem lies here.
I need to get the first, middle and last name into fullname. It's obviously not possible to add them like this:
fullname = first + middle + last; since it's adresses, but how would I go about "loading" the fullname pointer with the adresses of the other three so it makes out the whole name in one pointer?

Hoping for swift answers! =)
Gar

theres two options. The easy way out and the long way around

easy

Code: Select all

const char *GetFullName()
{
   static char buff[1024];//some buffer. Length has to be greater than any combo of first, middle and last name.
   strcpy(buff, m_pszFirstName);//copy
   strcat(buff, m_pszMiddleName);//concatenate
   strcat(buff, m_pszLastName); //concatenate
   return &buff; //return address of buffer
}

int main()
{
  std::cout << GetFullName();
  //note: getfullname() uses a static buffer. Multiple calls returning different names is possible, but since there is only one buffer, it will always contain the last generated name
  return 0;
}




long way around

Code: Select all

char *GetFullName()
{
   char *buff = new char[ strlen(m_pszFirstName) + strlen(m_pszMiddleName) + strlen(m_pszLastName) +1];//create buffer thats exactly large enough (lenghts of all strings you want to put into it, plus one for the string-terminator '\0')
   strcpy(buff, m_pszFirstName);//copy
   strcat(buff, m_pszMiddleName);//concatenate
   strcat(buff, m_pszLastName); //concatenate
   return buff; //return address of buffer
}

int main()
{
    char *name = GetFullName();
   //use name here
   //when you are done with name (DONT FORGET, WILL CAUSE MEMORY LEAKS)
   delete [] name;
}


offcourse, if you are using c++, you can also use strings...

[Garrador]

Ah great! Thanks a lot! Worked like a charm!

Thanks

[Shrinker]

Use std::string!

[Garrador]

Like I said, I wanted to do it with the char type, so I know how to do it Strings are easy, heh.