I cleaned up the code a bit and generated an working example.

#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>

using namespace std;

const int MAX_num = 3;

class Foo
{
public:
   struct Bar {
      int otherdata;
      int andMoreData;

      Bar () : otherdata(1), andMoreData(2) { };
   };

   Bar mybar[MAX_num]; // Array of MAX_num Bar's
   int somedata;
};

int main ()
{
   Foo foo;

   foo.mybar[0].otherdata   = 5; // [0] for first element, [1] for second, [2] for third
   foo.mybar[0].andMoreData = 6; // don't try to access higher positions, as the array has
                                 // only three elements

   cout << foo.mybar[0].otherdata << endl;   // 5
   cout << foo.mybar[0].andMoreData << endl; // 6

   cout << foo.mybar[1].otherdata << endl;   // 1
   cout << foo.mybar[1].andMoreData << endl; // 2

   return 0;
}

But it looks a bit like you don't really know what to do. I suggest you take an c++ tutorial or book (on stackoverflow there are some entries about good beginner-books) to learn c++ from beginning. While it might look more time-consuming at beginning, you will learn much more that way.

You write a constructor for Bar just like you would any constructor. If Bar wasn't inside Foo then it would be something like this:

struct Bar {
    Bar();
    int otherdata;
    int andMoreData;
};

Bar::Bar(): otherdata(1), andMoreData(2) { }

When you put Bar inside of Foo it becomes:

class Foo {
    struct Bar {
        Bar();
        int otherdata;
        int andMoreData;
    };
};

Foo::Bar::Bar(): otherdata(1), andMoreData(2) { }

Then to give every instance of Foo 3 instances of Bar objects you would do something like:

class Foo {
    struct Bar {
        Bar();
        int otherdata;
        int andMoreData;
    };
    Bar bars[3];
};

Foo::Bar::Bar(): otherdata(1), andMoreData(2) { }

There are other ways you could format this, but the above is the most idiomatic. You will note that the bars variable and the Bar class are both private in the above. It is generally recognized that member-variables should be private within a class (I'm telling you this because you said your purpose is to understand OO better.) It is sometimes acceptable to make the structure (Bar) itself publicly available, but if the struct is just for the class' convenience, then it is better to make it private as well.

const int MAX_num = 3;
class Foo{
public:
    struct Bar{
        Bar() { // Constructor - initializes a Bar instance
            otherdata = 1;
            andMoreData = 2;
        }
        int otherdata;
        int andMoreData;
    };
    Bar mybar; // Separating the Bar type from the mybar variable. Your original syntax is valid, but this is more common
    Bar nmybar[MAX_num]; // nmybar is an array of MAX_num Bar's
    int somedata;
};

OK, BIG THANKS to people posting I was able to work up a code sample that I understood.

Then I was able to apply the ideas I learned to my class problem.

I am now able to create the kind of class with a struct and an array that I needed! Now I can rework the rest of my homework solution (I got all the bits and pieces for running the machine to work but with only one drink) to accommodate the desired class. Thank you!

Here is my new sample class, with it's real names, etc.

/* C++ syntax/how to declare, fill and access an array within a class started off with MacGucky's solution */

include

include

using namespace std;

const int UNIQUE_DRINKS = 5;

/* class DrinkMachine { private: string drink ; double cost; int drinksLeft; double moneyCollected;

*/

class DrinkMachine { public: /* So there are TWO members in class 'DrinkMachine' one is 'moneyCollected' the other is 'Bottles' 'Bottles' has 3 attributes: a) 'drink' -name of drink b) 'cost' - how much for one drink c) 'drinksLeft' - how many of each unique drink are stocked in the machine */ struct Bottles { string drink; double cost; int drinksLeft;

    // this is a constructor for 'Bottles' It puts default data into an instance OF 'Bar'
    Bottles () : drink("cola"), cost(0.75), drinksLeft(20) { };
};
Bottles myBottles[UNIQUE_DRINKS]; // myBottles is an Array of UNIQUE_DRINKS Bottles
// refer to 'myBottles' like a member, that has children   (two dots for it's children)
//              versus one dot for moneyCollected

double moneyCollected;

};

int main () { // instantiate DrinkMachine, create an object named 'Building1'

cout << "Lets's fill up the drink machine in Building 1 ! " << endl ;
DrinkMachine Building1;
Building1.moneyCollected = 20.00;

// objectname.ARRAYNAME[position].ivarWithinStruct

// KEEP ALL the defaults for first Bottles item (Cola)
// most of the rest matches the defaults except name and price on water

    Building1.myBottles[1].drink   = "grape soda"; 
    Building1.myBottles[2].drink   = "root bear"; 
    Building1.myBottles[3].drink   = "orange soda"; 
    Building1.myBottles[4].drink   = "bottled water"; 
    Building1.myBottles[4].cost    = 1.00; 

for (int i=1; i<=4;i++) {
    cout << Building1.myBottles[i].drink  ;    
    cout << " " ;
    cout << Building1.myBottles[i].cost  ;   
        cout << " " ;
    cout << Building1.myBottles[i].drinksLeft ;   //  
    cout << endl;
}
cout << "\t * * * " << endl ;
cout << "\t Total Bucks Collected Today " << Building1.moneyCollected << endl ;
return 0;

}

/* Loading program into debugger… Program loaded. run [Switching to process 3332] Running… Lets's fill up the drink machine in Building 1 ! grape soda 0.75 20 root bear 0.75 20 orange soda 0.75 20 bottled water 1 20

Total Bucks Collected Today 20

Debugger stopped. Program exited with status value:0. */