Thanks. I didnt think to use a matrix like that, so that i dont have to reference every solution individually, i can reference by number (which is sortof what i was looking for to begin with). I wouldn't need getSolution as a function, would I? Since it would only be called once in the program (or atleast only typed once)? Unless it has something to do with static? What does static do? Is it possible to return an array in a function, or only its pointer? And I still would like to know (even though i have no immediate need now) if its possible to store an array with {1,3,6,2....} while not initialising it. Tell me if i'm wrong, but i think i've noticed that you can use either an array or a pointer as an argument (they'd be used differently in the function, of course), and then you can pass either an array or a pointer and it will convert it according to the argument type.

I would like an answer...
I know they seem unrelated, but all these questions have come up from my 15 puzzle program (first program) and are probably simple to most people.

Use the function. It's modular and better programming practice.

Nope.

When used with a variable in a function, each time the function is entered the variable retains the value from the last time the function was used.

Pointer...

Not a clue what you are asking. In order to get the values in the array it must be initialized somehow.

To use GUI you should first learn Win32 API and/or MFC.
I suggest you learn C++ throughout in the first place.