C++ pointers confusion

[BVW]

Quick question for one of you experts out there.

I am not a C++ programmer, but I am trying to convert a block of code into another language.
The below is a troublesome loop that I do not undestand.
what the heck is this for loop doing? I do not understand srcmtx[i][k]+4.
What does the +4 mean?

I thought that the +4 would be increasing the element. e.g. arr[1][2]+4 is the same as arr[1][9]

but seeing the +20 blows that theory out of the water..


Can anyone explain this to me?

static char *srcmtx[1][11] = {
"                        ",
"            AAA         ",
" BB          CD         ",
"                        ",
"AAA          DD         ",
"         X   Y       Z  ",
"        NNN             ",
"                        ",
"                        ",
" BB          X          ",
"                        ",
};  


for(k = 0;k < 11; k++) {
    if (memcmp("   ",(srcmtx[i][k]+4),3))
        memcpy(targetmtx[k*6+1],(srcmtx[i][k]+4),3);
    if (memcmp("   ",(srcmtx[i][k]+8),3))
        memcpy(targetmtx[k*6+2],(srcmtx[i][k]+8),3);
	.
	.
	.
    if (memcmp("   ",(srcmtx[i][k]+20),3))
        memcpy(targetmtx[k*6+5],(srcmtx[i][k]+20),3);
  }};

thx,
BVW

[ahoodin]

Where on earth did you find this code? It is quite odd.
I dont think there is a point to writing array[1][11]. It is the same as array[11] and redundant.
To write *parray[1][11] is really strange. What +20 is trying to do is add 20 bytes to the source
address. Honestly it doesnt look like the original code that you are posting...could you be trying
to recreate this code from memory?

[Lindley]

The only possible valid value for i there is 0, so I'm assuming that's what it is; but I have no idea that targetmtx is, or what that code might be attempting to do. That's just a *really* strange array of strings......

However, assuming i is 0, then k is indicating which of those strings, and the "+n" is indicating how many characters into the string. In general:

type array[20], *temp;
temp = array + 5;
// is equivalent to
temp = &array[5];

[BVW]

Sorry, the original size of the variable is actually [16][11]. But I didnt think I needed to post the whole massive declaration to get the point across.

The value for i is actually passed into the function as a parameter, meaning it is not part of a loop.

Glad to hear I am not the only one puzzled by this then.

The only thing I cant figure out is what that +4, or +20 means. Each element looks to be only 11 characters long, so adding 20 to it seems like nonsense..



Thanks,
Brian

[JohnW@Wessex]

The only thing I cant figure out is what that +4, or +20 means. Each element looks to be only 11 characters long, so adding 20 to it seems like nonsense..

There are 11 pointers to 'strings', but each 'string' is 24 characters long, so +20 is accessing the 20th character where srcmtx[i][k] is the pointer to the start of the 'string'

What language are you trying to convert it to?

[BVW]

Ahh I see.

So arr[0][2]+1 would be 'BB '

What a strange syntax.

I am converting to .net.

Thanks for the help.

[Lindley]

Ahh I see.

So arr[0][2]+1 would be 'BB '

What a strange syntax.

Well, not exactly. See, you aren't accessing an element of the string, you're advancing a pointer from the start of it. arr[0][2][1] would be the character 'B'; arr[0][2]+1 would be a pointer to the C-style string starting with that letter. So what you've got is a pointer to the string

"BB          CD         "

, but since the memcmps only check three characters, you are indeed comparing to "BB ".

[JohnW@Wessex]

What a strange syntax.

Indeed, even for a 'C' program

[ahoodin]

Ahh I see.

So arr[0][2]+1 would be 'BB '

What a strange syntax.

I am converting to .net.

Thanks for the help.

No this is ugly code even for C. I am afraid it is not even a very good representation of C code. There are far better sources to learn to program from:

http://www.cprogramming.com/
http://www.cplusplus.com/

I would start with the basics.....

CG has great forums and FAQs for specific questions as well. CG has great COM tutorials and such.

[JohnW@Wessex]

Hopefully here's the same functionality in C++.
It may be closer to the syntax of the language you are converting to than the original code.

#include <vector>
#include <string>
#include <array>

// Array of 11 strings.
std::tr1::array<const std::string, 11> srcmtx = 
{
    "                        ",
    "            AAA         ",
    " BB          CD         ",
    "                        ",
    "AAA          DD         ",
    "         X   Y       Z  ",
    "        NNN             ",
    "                        ",
    "                        ",
    " BB          X          ",
    "                        ",
};

// 100 target strings.
std::vector<std::string> targetmtx(100);

int main()
{
    for (size_t k = 0; k < srcmtx.size(); ++k)
    {
        if (srcmtx[k].compare(4, 3, "   "))
        {
            targetmtx[k * 6 + 1] = srcmtx[k].substr(4, 3);
        }

        if (srcmtx[k].compare(8, 3, "   "))
        {
            targetmtx[k * 6 + 2] = srcmtx[k].substr(8, 3);
        }

        if (srcmtx[k].compare(20, 3, "   "))
        {
            targetmtx[k * 6 + 5] = srcmtx[k].substr(20, 3);
        }
    }
}