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

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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

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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

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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 }

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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

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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

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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 }
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Keep In Mind Maintenance

• Maintenance refers to any work done on a
• The data members of a class cannot be program after it is put into operation
accessed directly by a main program.
• The world constantly changes
• The object always retains the current
• Programs have to be maintained
values of its data members, even when
(modified) to keep up with the changes
object code is no longer executing.
• When programs are maintained, the data
• Each function of a class can use the data
members sometimes have to change
members of the class as though they have
been declared within the function. • 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 • First technique – make the classes and
even thousands of clients or drivers the main program and test everything all at
once
• Write your class for clients, not for – inefficient: takes a long time to track down
computer end-users each bug
• Do not put code in your class which gives • Second technique – test each class as it is
messages to users or asks users for made by writing a main program just to
information – let clients handle this the test it (called a test driver)
way they want
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Function Definitions in the Struct vs. Class

Class Specification
• Functions can be placed in a struct, but
only when necessary
• Function definitions can be placed into the
class specification file (with the .h • The public and private keywords can be
extension). left out of a class (rarely done).
• The public and private keywords can be
• Avoid doing this because it is a hindrance
placed into a struct (rarely done).
to program maintenance.
• So what is the difference between a struct
and a class?
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Struct vs. Class (cont.) Conventions

• If public and private are not used in a • By convention, we use structs when we
struct, all data members are public by want all data members to be public
default. – structs are typically defined and used within
the client’s program, not in a separate file
• If public and private are not used in a – typically used for records of information
class, all data members are private by
default. • 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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