Member Avatar for rporter1

I have found out through the compiler that you cannot declare and initialize an array within a class header file. I was trying to figure out how I might go about getting a 5 by 14 array initialized as a private mamber within the class. I have included the header file and the class cpp file, neither are in full working form, but you should be able to get the idea about what i am trying to accomplish. thanks for taking a look.

// vend cpp file



#include <iostream>

using std::cout

#include "vend.h"

Vend::Vend( int nv, int dv, int qv, int lv, int qtyv, int fsmv, int cstatev )
{

	nickles  = nv;
	dimes    = dv;
	quarters = qv;
	dollars  = lv;
	qty      = qtyv;
	cstate   = cstatev;
	fsm      = fsmv;

}


void Vend::setNickle( int nv )
{
	nickles = nv;
}

void Vend::setDime( int dv )
{
	dimes = dv;
}

void Vend::setQuarter( int qv )
{
	quarters = qv;
}

void Vend::setDollar( int lv )
{
	dollars = lv
}

void Vend::setQty( int qtyv )
{
	qty = qtyv;
}

void Vend::setCstate( int cstatev )
{
	cstate = cstatev;
}

void Vend::setFsm( int fsmv )
{
	fsm = fsmv;
}

int Vend::getNickle()
{
	return nickles;
}

int Vend::getDime()
{
	return dimes;
}

int Vend::getQuarter()
{
	return quarters;
}

int Vend::getDollar()
{
	return dollars;
}

int Vend::getQty()
{
	return qty;
}

int Vend::getFsm()
{
	return fsm;
}

int Vend::getCstate()
{
	return cstate;
}









// show_items: display contents of vending machine items
void Vend::drink_amt()
{
	cout << "  Item Quantity is:  " << qty << "\n";
}









int  Vend::bank_amt()
{
	cout << " Bank amount is:  ";
	return dollars * $dollar + quarters * $quarter + dimes * $dime + nickles * $nickle;
}











void Vend::accept_money( unsigned amt )
{
	if (amt == $nickle || amt == $dime || amt == $quarter || amt == $dollar)
	{
		money_msg( "accepted $", amt );
		deposit += amt;
	}
}










void Vend::return_money( unsigned amt )
{
	while (amt >= $dollar && dollars > 0)
	{
		money_msg( "returned $", $dollar, false );
		cout << " (ka-ching)\n";
		dollars--;
		amt -= $dollar;
	}
	while (amt >= $quarter && quarters > 0)
	{
		money_msg( "returned $", $quarter, false );
		cout << " (ka-ching)\n";
		quarters--;
		amt -= $quarter;
	}
	while (amt >= $dime && dimes > 0)
	{
		money_msg( "returned $", $dime, false );
		cout << " (ka-ching)\n";
		dimes--;
		amt -= $dime;
	}
	while (amt >= $nickle && nickles > 0)
	{
		money_msg( "returned $", $nickle, false );
		cout << " (ka-ching)\n";
		nickles--;
		amt -= $nickle;
	}
}











// money_msg: display a monetary amount in dollars/cents format with a message
void Vend::money_msg( char *msg, unsigned amt, bool withnl )
{
	cout << msg << fixed << setprecision(2) << amt/100.0;
	if (withnl) cout << endl;
}




















void vm_simulate( Vend &vm )
{
	string input;
	int    choice;
	
	while (true)
	{
		
		// display item menu screen
		cout << "\n  Porter's Vending Machine Simulation\n";
		vm.show_items();
		cout << "  ===\n";
		cout << "    N - Insert a nickel\n";
		cout << "    D - Insert a dime\n";
		cout << "    Q - Insert a quarter\n";
		cout << "    L - Insert a dolar\n";
		cout << "    C - Cancel (coin return)\n";
		cout << "    S - Show Bank Amt and Drink Qty\n";
		cout << "    Z - Quit simulation\n";
		vm.money_msg( "\nCredit: $", deposit );
		cout << "Enter item selection number or command: ";
		getline( cin, input );
		// remove leading white space
		while (isspace( input[0] ))
			input.erase( 0, 1 );	// 1 char at a time
		// convert user input to all uppercase
		for (unsigned i = 0; i < input.length(); i++)
			input[i] = toupper( input[i] );
		// try to parse a number from user input
		choice = atoi( input.c_str() );
//		cout << "your input was: |" << input << "|\n";
//		cout << "choice = " << n << endl;
		if (input[0] == 'V')
			
		else if (input[0] == 'Z')		// quit
			break;
		else if (input[0] == 'S')
			vm.drink_amt();
			vm.bank_amt();
		else if (input[0] == 'C')		// cancel
			vm.cancel();
		else if (input[0] == 'N')
			vm.accept_money( nickle );
		else if (input[0] == 'D')
			vm.accept_money( dime);
		else if (input[0] == 'Q')
			vm.accept_money( quarter );
		else if (input[0] == 'L')
			vm.accept_money( dollar );

	}  // while
}  // vm_simulate()
//Header for vending machine
//

#ifndef VEND_H
#define VEND_H

enum State{STATE= 0, ZERO, FIVE, TEN, FIFTEEN, TWENTY, TWENTYFIVE, THIRTY, THIRTYFIVE, FOURTY, FOURTYFIVE, FIFTY, FIFTYFIVE, SIXTY, SIXTYFIVE};
enum Coin{NICKLE = 1, DIME, QUARTER, DOLLAR};
enum Money { $nickle = 5, $dime = 10, $quarter = 25, $dollar = 100 };
int deposit = 0;

class Vend {

public:
	void setNickle( int );
	int getNickle() const;

	void setDime( int );
	int getDime() const;

	void setQuarter( int );
	int getQuarter() const;

	void setDollar( int );
	int getDollar() const;

	void setQty( int );
	int getQty() const;

	void setCstate( int );
	int getCstate() const;

	void setFsm( int );
	int getFsm() const;
	
	void state(int,int);

	void vend_drink( int  );

	int bank_amt(); 

	int drink_amt();

	void cancel();

	void accept_money( unsigned amt );

	void money_msg( char, unsigned, bool );

	

	

private:

	
	int nickles;	// number of nickels,
	int dimes;		// dimes,
	int quarters;	// and quarters
	int dollars;	// and dollars
		

	int qty;
	int fsm[5][15] = {{'S',0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65},
        {'N',5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65,65},  {'D',10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65,65,65},
        {'Q',25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65,65,65,65,65,65,65},{'L',65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65,65}};

	int cstate;
  • 3 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 218 Views
  • 2 Months Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by Tight_Coder_Ex

Dani AI

Generated

correctly observed a compiler error when trying to initialize a non‑static C array inside a class declaration on older compilers. That behavior is historical: pre‑C++11 compilers do not allow in‑class initialization of non‑static array members. pointed in the right direction — initialize the 5×14 array inside the constructor. ’s hint about runtime containers is also useful: modern code often prefers std::array or std::vector for safer initialization and assignment.

Example approaches (5×14 array):

Constructor initialization (works on old compilers)

// Vend.h
class Vend {
    int fasm[5][14];
public:
    Vend();
};

// Vend.cpp
#include <cstring> // for std::memcpy
static const int default_fasm[5][14] = { /* fill rows here */ };

Vend::Vend() {
    std::memcpy(fasm, default_fasm, sizeof(fasm)); // copies POD data efficiently
}

Modern C++ (recommended): use std::array or in‑class member initializer (C++11+)

#include <array>

class Vend {
    using Row = std::array<int,14>;
    std::array<Row,5> fasm = { Row{ /* row0 */ }, Row{ /* row1 */ }, /* ... */ };
};

Troubleshooting notes and recommendations:

  • If the compiler errors on in‑class initializers, compile with a modern standard (g++/clang: -std=c++11 or newer).
  • Arrays don’t support assignment; prefer std::array when copy/assignment is needed.
  • For simple zeroing, std::memset or value initialization (int fasm[5][14] = {};) in the constructor works.
  • For large static defaults that never change, declare the array static in the class and define/initialize it in the .cpp file.

These options cover both historical toolchains and current best practices while matching the 5×14 requirement raised by .

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for achyut

you cannot declare and initialize an array in header file.but u can crate as many as u want object of any class member in your .c++ file so using this u can create run time array. think on this

Member Avatar for Tight_Coder_Ex

All you have to do is move or more specifically code appropriately in Vend::Vend (default constructor) the values you want in fasm. This is how variables are initialized in a class, like int value [1][2] = {4, 8}; would be too code.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.