C++ Variable array in a Class Problem

Question

I was wondering if there was a way to include a data member which is an array of unfixed size.

The function initModulation will create an int array of size M and a Complex array of size M. (Complex is another class and is made up of a real component and imaginary component).

The function modulate will need to be able to access these two arrays. These two arrays go out of scope after the init Modulation function is called. To avoid this, I would just make these two data members of the Modulator class, however I can't do that because the array size depends on M.

class Modulator
{
    int M;
    double phase;
    std::string mapping;

public:
    void initModulation(int M, double phase, std::string mapping);
    double* modulate(int *input,int inputlength,int complexFlag);
};

Any ideas around this?

Thanks, Minh

std::complex comes to mind. Don't force yourself to reinvent the wheel. — IAE
– IAE, Commented Jan 7, 2011 at 8:29

Karl Knechtel · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-07 08:23:23Z

Don't write initialization functions without very special circumstances; construct with the constructor.
The arrays are logical part of the class data, since they are used for modulation, and that's what instances of the class do. So you should have them as members.
You were planning to create arrays of unknown-at-compile-time size, right? How does it matter whether you're storing them as members of the class or not? Either way, you have the information about M at this point, and use it accordingly.
But you shouldn't be allocating your own arrays, anyway. Use std::vector. After all, you're smart enough to use std::string for text data, so...
Why would you use an int for a parameter that's supposedly some sort of "flag"? C++ has a real boolean type, called bool. Use it.
For the input and output of modulation, again, use vectors.
Having a class with a member function whose name aligns with the class name is suspicious. Many languages support the idea of a "callable" object and C++ is among them. In C++, we spell this functionality "operator()".

Thus:

class Modulator
{
    std::vector<int> int_data;
    std::vector<Complex> complex_data;
    double phase;
    std::string mapping;

    public:
    Modulator(int M, double phase, std::string mapping): 
    int_data(M), complex_data(M), phase(phase), mapping(mapping) {}

    std::vector<double> operator()(const std::vector<int>& input, bool is_complex);
};

Welcome to modern C++. :)

templatetypedef · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-07 08:16:50Z

1

You can use the std::vector class, which is like an array but has a variable size and requires no explicit memory management. If you declare one as a data member, then you can have initModulation fill it with as many elements as it likes, but then have the data available in modulate.

One suggestion - it might be a good idea to change initModulation to be a class constructor. That way, it gets called automatically and there's no risk of calling modulate without first initializing the object.

answered Jan 7, 2011 at 8:16

templatetypedef

376k112 gold badges954 silver badges1.1k bronze badges

Comments

Mahesh · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-07 08:17:03Z

1

I was wondering if there was a way to include a data member which is an array of unfixed size.

STL is probably what you are looking for.( std::vector ...

answered Jan 7, 2011 at 8:17

Mahesh

34.7k23 gold badges93 silver badges116 bronze badges

Comments

CVRP_2021 · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-16 14:27:44Z

1

If you dont want to use the vector and use the array only without fixed size, you can initialise array as a pointer.

int *intArray;

Later inside the function when you get the input size, set pointer array with a keyword new.

intArray = new int[inputlength];

Dont forget to remove it at the end

delete [] intArray;

answered Mar 16, 2022 at 14:27

CVRP_2021

313 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C++ Variable array in a Class Problem

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related