How can I initialize this struct array using a pointer? I try to read input into the struct variables and I get garbage output, but when I initialize a static array I output the correct variables.
unsigned int data = numberOfLines();
patient *q; //struct pointer
q = new patient[data];
//What I want to do
q = new patient[data] = {0,0,0,0,0}; // initialize the array
You probably want std:: fill():
#include <algorithm>
patient *patients = ...;
size_t count = ...;
std::fill(patients, patients + count, DEFAULT_PATIENT_VALUE);
#include <algorithm>, not #include <algo>.Maybe you are looking for an elegant solution to clear the entire array of structures:
memset(q, 0, sizeof(patient) * data);
(assuming your structure contains only POD types)
memset() is not safe for C++ classes. :)
memset() is safe.
new int gives you a pointer to garbage, new int() gives you a pointer to a 0.If you are using a non-POD type, loop over your patient array and initialize each cell.
If you want to get fancy you could gain a little bit of flexibility by creating a function to do this.
patient * createInitializedPatientArray(patient defaultPatient, int length)
{
patient * temp = new patient[length];
for(int x = 0; x < length; x++)
temp[x] = defaultPatient;
return temp;
}
memset to initialize the array.struct patient is POD.
new[]anddelete[], you should switch tostd::vectorthat someone else has already debugged.patientstructs?