Search function problem

[wfws]

I'm working on a lab for my C++ class that is the first to use classes and objects. It requires a search function that lists tasks found for a target course. I can't get the search function to work. Here is the relevant code:

from main source code:

void processCommand(char command, TaskList& list)
{
	Task			entry;
	char			task[MAX_CHAR];
	char			course[MAX_CHAR];
	char			date[MAX_CHAR];

	switch (command)..
case 's': readInTask(course);
			  if(list.searchEntry(course, entry))
			  {
				   entry.getTask(task);   // gets matching task 
				   entry.getDate(date);	  // gets matching date
				   cout << endl << " The tasks for course " << course << " are: \n" << endl;
				   //column titles
				   cout << setw(TASK_COL_WIDTH) << "  Task" 
						<< setw(DATE_COL_WIDTH) << "  Date";
				   cout << endl ;

				   cout << setw(TASK_COL_WIDTH) << task 
					<< setw(DATE_COL_WIDTH) << date
					<< endl;
			  }

.. [B]from TaskList::searchEntry function[/B]
bool TaskList::searchEntry(const char course[], Task& match) const
{
	int		index;
	char	currentTask[MAX_CHAR];
	char	currentCourse[MAX_CHAR];
	char    currentDate[MAX_CHAR];

	for(index=0; index < size; index++)
	{
		list[index].getTask(currentTask);
		list[index].getCourse(currentCourse);
		list[index].getDate(currentDate);
		if(strcmp(course, currentCourse) == 0)
		{
			match.setTask(currentTask);
			match.setCourse(currentCourse);
			match.setDate(currentDate);
		}
	}
	if (index == size)
		return false;
	else
		return true;
}

The search outputs one search result when there are more than one. I can't tell if the problem is in the output (in the switch statement) or in the actual search function.

Thanks for your help.
WFWS

[MonsieurPointer]

I only see a single output for when something matches:

entry.getTask(task);   // gets matching task 
entry.getDate(date);	  // gets matching date

Without exactly know how your class Task looks like, I can't help any further. What is the output supposed to look like? What is the current output?

[wfws]

Here are the definitions from the implementation file for the Task class. The search output is supposed to list all tasks found for a particular course, and their date. So the output would be columns under the task and date headers. The output I'm getting now is either nothing found or a single task when it should list several. If you need the task.h file let me know.

#include "Task.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

/* Constructors*/
Task::Task()
{
	strcpy(task, "no task");
	strcpy(course, "no course");
}
/* Constructor initializes Task thru parameters*/
Task::Task(const char task[], const char course[], const char date[])
{
	strcpy(this->task, task);	
	strcpy(this->course, course); 
	strcpy(this->date, date);
}

/* getTask returns the name of the task through the parameter.
   out: task
*/
void Task::getTask(char task[]) const
{
	strcpy(task, this->task);
}

/* getCourse function returns the course of the entry through the parameter.
   out: course
*/
void Task::getCourse(char course[]) const
{
	strcpy(course, this->course);
}

/* getDate function returns the date of the entry through the parameter.
   out: date
*/
void Task::getDate(char date[]) const
{
	strcpy(date, this->date);
}

/*Print function prints the state of the object.*/
void Task::print() const
{
	cout << task << " -> " << course << endl;
}

/* setTask sets the task to the passed in value.
   in: task
*/
void Task::setTask(const char task[])
{
	strcpy(this->task, task);
}

/* setCourse sets the course to the passed in value.
   in: course
*/
void Task::setCourse(const char course[])
{
	strcpy(this->course, course);
}

/* setDate sets the course to the passed in value.
   in: course
*/
void Task::setDate(const char date[])
{
	strcpy(this->date, date);
}

[MonsieurPointer]

Alright. The issue is in both of your searching and processing methods.

Problem with your search method: If you are expecting one or more results, but only accept one reference Task object, then you cannot expect to process multiple results.

Problem with your process method: You will need to update it to loop through all possible results.

Now for an observation: it is quite evident that you are using C++, yet you decided to use C-type strings (char arrays). Any particular reason for that?

[wfws]

Thanks- so I'm understanding this- I need to correct both the output and the search functions to allow multiple results.

We are restricted to using only c-strings for this class by the instructor.

I think I can understand using a loop to go thru possible results. I'm not sure I get how to tell search to accept more than one task object. Can you give an example? Will it require a loop as well?

Your answer is VERY helpful. I wasn't sure what side the problem was on- it appears its on BOTH search and output.

[MonsieurPointer]

What you could do is pass a reference to a vector of Task objects, like so:

bool TaskList::searchEntry(const char course[], vector<Task>& matches) const

Then, each time a match is found, just add a task to it.

When looping through your search results, just iterate through the vector.