Can I create an object with the user defined name?

As the title suggest i want to create an object with the name that was entered by the user into the console.

This code looks stupid but you will get the idea what i want to do (although it doesn't work):

Code:

---


#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
string name;

string *p;

p=&name;

cin>>name;

cout<<*p<<endl;

string [name];

system("pause");
return 0;
}

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If possible i dont want to use array because i am doing a pet clinic management system. Asking user how many pets they wanna admit into the clinic is unrealistic. The above code is not the code for the program but a "thought experiment" program about the problem i mentioned.

Instead of trying to create a variable whose name is the string entered by the user, what you can do is to associate that string with the other information, e.g., create a Pet class with a name member variable of string type, or perhaps create a std::map of pet names to pet objects.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

As the title suggest i want to create an object with the name that was entered by the user into the console.

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It's still confusing as to what you want. The title of this thread or the fake code you posted doesn't clear this up.

Code:

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#include <string>
#include <iostream>

class SomeObject
{
    std::string name;

    public:
        SomeObject( std::string& theName) : name( theName ) { }
        std::string getName() const { return name; }
};

int main()
{
  std::string name;
  cin >> name;
  SomeObject obj( name );
  cout << obj.getName();
}

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This code creates an object with a name and outputs the name. Is this what you mean? Or do you mean create an object from a name, where the name determines what object to create?

Regards,

Paul McKenzie

What i meant was..

In the console:
enter the name of your pet:John

In the code:
....bla bla
....bla bla
....bla bla

pet John; //pet is the class and John is the name of the animal.
//when the user enter the name of the pet a new object instance is created with the
//name of the pet as the class' name.

Ah, then I guessed correctly. My suggestions apply, and in fact Paul McKenzie's example is an example of my first suggestion.

Ok... sorry i am still a beginner but what is std::map? And why Paul McKenzie's code does not have "using namespace std" and is he using constructor initializer list? Thanks for your time.

Oh yeah i just figured vector is also plausible right? I can encapsulate the program by hiding the number of pets i have. I wont be replying for a while. I have class tomorrow morning. I need to sleep now. Thank you in advance to anyone who replied my question.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

what is std::map?

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A container that maps keys to values :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

And why Paul McKenzie's code does not have "using namespace std"

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Because those names from the std namespace are fully qualified.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

is he using constructor initializer list?

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Yes. (Though I note that the constructor parameter is a non-const reference when it should be a const reference.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

Oh yeah i just figured vector is also plausible right?

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Probably, but it depends on what exactly you are trying to do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hayloiuy

What i meant was..

In the console:
enter the name of your pet:John

In the code:
....bla bla
....bla bla
....bla bla

pet John; //pet is the class and John is the name of the animal.
//when the user enter the name of the pet a new object instance is created with the
//name of the pet as the class' name.

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Let's say you did that. How would the rest of the code know how to refer to John? A map or a database is what you want.