1/17/2011

C++ Classes and Data Structures Structs

Jeffrey S. Childs

• A struct holds data, like an array

• Each unit of data in a struct is called a
Chapter 1 data member (or member)
– they are called “elements” in arrays
Structs and Classes • In a struct, each data member can have a
different data type
Jeffrey S. Childs
Clarion University of PA – in arrays, the data type of each element is the
© 2008, Prentice Hall same
1 2

Example Using a Struct Example Using a Struct

1 #include <iostream>
2 #include <iomanip>
(cont.)
3 #include <string>
4 15 int main( )
5 using namespace std; 16 {
6 17 CarType myCar, yourCar;
7 struct CarType { 18
8 string maker; 19 myCar.maker = "Mercedes";
9 int year; 20 myCar.year = 2005;
10 float price; Don’t forget this 21 myCar.price = 45567.75;
11 }; 22
semicolon.
12
13 void getYourCar( CarType & car );
14
3 4

Example Using a Struct Example Using a Struct

(cont.) (cont.)
23 getYourCar( yourCar ); 33 void getYourCar( CarType & car )
24 34 {
25 cout << "Your car is a: " << yourCar.maker << endl;
35 cout << "Enter your maker: ";
26 cout << fixed << showpoint << setprecision( 2 ) <<
27 "I'll offer $" << yourCar.price - 100 <<
36 cin >> car.maker;
28 " for your car." << endl; 37 cout << "Enter the year: ";
29 38 cin >> car.year;
30 return 0; 39 cout << "Enter the price: $";
31 } 40 cin >> car.price;
32 41 }

5 6

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Object Assignment Classes

• An object of a struct can be assigned to
another object of the same struct type:
myCar = yourCar;
• This assigns each data member in yourCar
to the corresponding data member of myCar
• Also assigns any array data members
7 8
• A class is similar to a struct
• A class contains data members, but it also
contains function members
• Objects are made from classes, similarly to the
way that objects are made from structs
• The main program communicates with the
objects
– data is passed from main program to object and from
object back to the main program

Main Program and

How the Main Program Uses a
Object
Class Object
Object
• main program does not access the data
within a class object directly public: private:
• It only accesses the functions of a class functions data
object
– communication occurs by passing data as Main
parameters into the object’s function
Program
– the object passes data to the main program
through its return type

9 10

Main Program Calls a Function The Function Accesses Data

in the Object
Object Object

public: private: public: private:

functions data functions data

Main Main
Program Program

11 12

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Function Returns a Value Back to Main Program Calls a

the Main Program Different Function
Object Object

public: private: public: private:

functions data functions data

Main Main
Program Program

13 14

Function Calls Another Second Function Accesses

Function Data
Object Object

public: private: public: private:

functions data functions data

Main Main
Program Program

15 16

Second Function Returns Back First Function Accesses Data

to First Function
Object Object

public: private: public: private:

functions data functions data

Main Main
Program Program

17 18

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Function Returns Back to

Example of a Class
Main Program
Object 1 class Checkbook
2 {
3 public:
public: private: 4 void setBalance(float amount );
5 bool writeCheck(float amount );
functions data
6 void deposit(float amount );
7 float getBalance(); This class definition is
Main 8 float getLastCheck(); placed into its own file,
9 float getLastDeposit(); called the class
Program 10 private: specification file,
11 float balance; named checkbook.h (by
12 float lastCheck; convention)
13 float lastDeposit;
19
14 }; 20

Example of a Class (cont.) Example of a Class (cont.)

15 #include “checkbook.h” 15 #include “checkbook.h”

16 16
17 void Checkbook::setBalance( float amount ) 17 void Checkbook::setBalance( float amount )
18 { 18 {
19 balance = amount; 19 balance = amount;
20 } 20 }

The function definitions are placed into a The balance variable is declared in the
separate file called the class implementation file. private section of the class definition.
This file would be called checkbook.cpp (by
convention).

21 22

Example of a Class (cont.) Example of a Class (cont.)

15 #include “checkbook.h”
16 21 bool Checkbook::writeCheck( float amount )
17 void Checkbook::setBalance( float amount ) 22 {
18 { 23 if ( amount > balance )
19 balance = amount; 24 return false;
20 } 25 balance -= amount;
26 lastCheck = amount;
Special notation for class function definitions 27 return true;
28 }

23 24

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Example of a Class (cont.) Example of a Class (cont.)

29 void Checkbook::deposit( float amount ) 34 float Checkbook::getBalance( )

30 { 35 {
31 balance += amount; 36 return balance;
32 lastDeposit = amount; 37 }
33 } 38
39 float Checkbook::getLastCheck( )
40 {
41 return lastCheck;
42 }

end of checkbook.cpp

25 26

A Program that Uses the A Program that Uses the

Checkbook Class Checkbook Class (cont.)
1 #include <iostream>
2 #include <iomanip> A main program that
3 #include "checkbook.h" uses the Checkbook
4 class is placed into a 16 cout << "Enter the initial balance: $";
5 using namespace std; separate .cpp file
6 17 cin >> balance;
7 int menu( ); 18 cb.setBalance( balance );
8 19
9 const int CHECK = 1, DEPOSIT = 2, BALANCE = 3, QUIT = 4; 20 cout << fixed << showpoint << setprecision( 2 );
10 21 choice = menu( );
11 int main( )
12 {
13 Checkbook cb;
14 float balance, amount;
15 int choice;
27 28

A Program that Uses the A Program that Uses the

Checkbook Class (cont.) Checkbook Class (cont.)
22 while ( choice != QUIT ) {
23 if ( choice == CHECK ) {
24 cout << "Enter check amount: $"; 33 else if ( choice == DEPOSIT ) {
25 cin >> amount; 34 cout << "Enter deposit amount: $";
26 if ( cb.writeCheck( amount ) ) 35 cin >> amount;
27 cout << "Check accepted." << endl; 36 cb.deposit( amount );
28 else { 37 cout << "Deposit accepted." << endl;
29 cout << "Your balance is not high "; 38 }
30 cout << "enough for that check." << endl;
31 } body of the while loop continues
32 }
body of the while loop continues

29 30

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A Program that Uses the A Program that Uses the

Checkbook Class (cont.) Checkbook Class (cont.)
50 int menu( )
39 else { // assumes it must be a balance request 51 {
40 amount = cb.getBalance( ); 52 int choice;
41 cout << "Your balance is: $" << amount << endl; 53
42 } 54 cout << endl;
43 55 cout << "1 Write a check" << endl;
44 choice = menu( ); 56 cout << "2 Make a deposit" << endl;
45 } 57 cout << "3 Get the balance" << endl;
46 end of while loop
58 cout << "4 Quit" << endl << endl;
47 return 0; 59 cout << "Enter a number between 1 and 4: ";
48 } end of main 60 cin >> choice;
49 61 return choice;
62 }
31 32

Keep In Mind Maintenance

• The data members of a class cannot be
accessed directly by a main program.
• The object always retains the current
values of its data members, even when
object code is no longer executing.
• Each function of a class can use the data
members of the class as though they have
been declared within the function.
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• Maintenance refers to any work done on a
program after it is put into operation
• The world constantly changes
• Programs have to be maintained
(modified) to keep up with the changes
• When programs are maintained, the data
members sometimes have to change
• Private data members make it easier to
maintain a program
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When Writing a Class Debugging a Program with Classes

• Your class may be used by hundreds or
even thousands of clients or drivers
• Write your class for clients, not for
computer end-users
• Do not put code in your class which gives
messages to users or asks users for
information – let clients handle this the
way they want
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• First technique – make the classes and
the main program and test everything all at
once
– inefficient: takes a long time to track down
each bug
• Second technique – test each class as it is
made by writing a main program just to
test it (called a test driver)
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Function Definitions in the
Class Specification
• Function definitions can be placed into the
class specification file (with the .h
extension).
• Avoid doing this because it is a hindrance
to program maintenance.
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Struct vs. Class (cont.)
• If public and private are not used in a
struct, all data members are public by
default.
• If public and private are not used in a
class, all data members are private by
default.
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Struct vs. Class
• Functions can be placed in a struct, but
only when necessary
• The public and private keywords can be
left out of a class (rarely done).
• The public and private keywords can be
placed into a struct (rarely done).
• So what is the difference between a struct
and a class?
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Conventions
• By convention, we use structs when we
want all data members to be public
– structs are typically defined and used within
the client’s program, not in a separate file
– typically used for records of information
• By convention, we use classes when we
want all data members to be private (for
maintenance, data verification, or other
purposes)
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