A Curious Thing...

[archiphile]

I am not only new here, but, I am a complete newbie to programing. I was on the hunt for some beginner tutorials today on the web. I found what I thought would be a simple yet in depth problem. I spent the last hour making sure that I had typed everything exactly as instructed (you tube video) and when I tried to compile, MSVC++EXS came back with about twenty errors. Now I saw the code run on the video, so I feel confident that it should work. But no dice here. I will post both a link to the original and the code as follows:

Video link(s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPKmFdNP5_A&feature=related

my code;

// This is a program about loops, switch statements, ifelse statements
//and applying them to another faily simple programme.

#include <iostream>;
using namespace std;
int main ()

{
	system ("TITLE Calculator");
	system ("COLOR 2");
	char cChar;
	double dfirstnumber;
	double dsecondnumber;
	char cDoagain;

do
{
	system ("CLS");
	cout<< "Please enter the first number that you would like to use." << endl;
	cin>> dfistnubmer;
	cout<< "Please enter the operation that you would like to complete."
    <<" (+,-,* and /)"<< endl;
	cin>> cChar;
	cin<< ("Please enter the second number that you would like to use.") << endl;

    switch (cChar);
    { 
    case "+";
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "+" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber + dsecondnumber 
         << endl;

    case "-";
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "-" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber - dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;
    case "*";
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "*" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;  
    case "x";
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "x" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;
    case "X";
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "X" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;
    case "/";
         if (dsecondnumber == 0) {
         cout << " That is an invalid operation!" << endl;
         }else {
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "/" << dsecondnumber 
         << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber / dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         }
         break;
    default: 
         cout<< " That is an invalid operation" << endl;
         break;
         {
         cout<< " Would you like to start again? (Y or N)" << endl;
         cin>> cDoagain;
    }while (cDoagain == 'Y'  || cDoagain == 'y');
    system ("Pause");
    return 0;
}

Also I thought that I would include the error log so that some one might possible explain what it is that the program is talking about and possible way to fix them.
Error Log

Compiler: Default compiler
Building Makefile: "C:\Dev-Cpp\Makefile.win"
Executing  make...
make.exe -f "C:\Dev-Cpp\Makefile.win" all
g++.exe -c switches.cpp -o switches.o -I"C:/Dev-Cpp/lib/gcc/mingw32/3.4.2/include"  -I"C:/Dev-Cpp/include/c++/3.4.2/backward"  -I"C:/Dev-Cpp/include/c++/3.4.2/mingw32"  -I"C:/Dev-Cpp/include/c++/3.4.2"  -I"C:/Dev-Cpp/include"   

switches.cpp:4:20: warning: extra tokens at end of #include directive
switches.cpp: In function `int main()':

switches.cpp:20: error: `dfistnubmer' undeclared (first use this function)
switches.cpp:20: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once for each function it appears in.)

switches.cpp:24: error: no match for 'operator<<' in 'std::cin << "Please enter the second number that you would like to use."'
switches.cpp:28: error: case label `"+"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:28: error: expected `:' before ';' token

switches.cpp:33: error: case label `"-"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:33: error: expected `:' before ';' token

switches.cpp:38: error: case label `"*"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:38: error: expected `:' before ';' token
switches.cpp:43: error: case label `"x"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:43: error: expected `:' before ';' token
switches.cpp:48: error: case label `"X"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:48: error: expected `:' before ';' token

switches.cpp:53: error: case label `"/"' not within a switch statement
switches.cpp:53: error: expected `:' before ';' token

switches.cpp:62: error: case label not within a switch statement

switches.cpp:71: error: expected `}' at end of input
switches.cpp:71: error: expected `while' at end of input

switches.cpp:71: error: expected `(' at end of input
switches.cpp:71: error: expected primary-expression at end of input
switches.cpp:71: error: expected `)' at end of input
switches.cpp:71: error: expected `;' at end of input
switches.cpp:71: error: expected `}' at end of input

make.exe: *** [switches.o] Error 1

Execution terminated

If you all could assist me in find out how to fix the errors I would greatly appreciate the assistance.

Best
Archiphile

[VernonDozier]

Anytime you get an "undeclared: first use" error, double-check the spelling. In your case, you have some slight typos:

cin>> dfistnubmer;

instead of:

cin>> dfirstnumber;

You left an 'r' off and transposed "mb":

Fix and recompile. Then you have:

cin<< ("Please enter the second number that you would like to use.") << endl;

Should be cout instead of cin and get rid of the parentheses.

switch (cChar);

Delete the semicolon.

case "+";

Replace the double quotes with single quotes and replace the semicolon with a colon:

case '+':

Do that for all of your case statements.

[Agni]

This is a first, a video problem ... what if the video was edited? :) .. Not a good way to learn programming I'd say ...

[MatEpp]

Remove the semi colon from

#include <iostream>;

[unbeatable0]

In addition to the above posts:
1) The user has no chance to input the second number. Better add cin>>dsecondnumber; after the user is told to input the second number.
2) In your case statements the output is always

cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << (operator) << dsecondnumber << dfirstnumber << "=" << dfirstnumber (operator) dsecondnumber << endl;

Why do you output the first number again? The output for 5*6 now (with that unnecessary output addition) is "The Answer is:5*65=30".
3) Change this:

default: 
         cout<< " That is an invalid operation" << endl;
         break;
         {
         cout<< " Would you like to start again? (Y or N)" << endl;
         cin>> cDoagain;

to

default: 
         cout<< " That is an invalid operation" << endl;
         break;
         }
         cout<< " Would you like to start again? (Y or N)" << endl;
         cin>> cDoagain;

4)
Just for comfort - you could write this:

case '*':
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "*" << dsecondnumber 
         << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;  
    case 'x':
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "x" << dsecondnumber 
         << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;
    case 'X':
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "X" << dsecondnumber 
         << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;

at bit shorter:

case 'x':
    case 'X':
    case '*':
         cout<< " The Answer is:"<< dfirstnumber << "*" << dsecondnumber 
         << "=" << dfirstnumber * dsecondnumber 
         << endl;
         break;

[archiphile]

Thank you all for the assistance. I will fix and recompile. BTW I am using the video because it is cheap (read Free). Thanks again

Best,

Archiphile

[unbeatable0]

There are free-to-read tutorials on the Internet as well.
Two good sites:
http://cprogramming.com
http://cplusplus.com

[PirateTUX]

Exactly what I was going to say, unbeatable0. You are far better off learning from some sort of print media than video.

To be completely honest, if you're truly committed to learning how to program, investing in a good solid C++ book shouldn't be out of the question. The lessons will be written down, you can notate a book, there will be practice questions with answers, and the lessons will be complete.

When I was learning Ogre3D, I tried to do it from online tutorials, but in the end, learned there is no substitute for a well written book.

[archiphile]

So I think that I have fixed most of what has been talked about before. I am coming up with one error that I do not understand.
Error is as follows:

switches.cpp(64) : fatal error C1075: end of file found before the left brace '{' 
switches - 1 error(s), 0 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

If any one could not just tell me how to fix it,but the why behind it would be great. Thank you all for your assistance.

Best,

Archiphile

[archiphile]

For all of the people saying that I should get a good text, I am in concurrence with you on that statement. I have to get some cash together so that I can invest. The on line tutorials are a supplement to the texts that I am planning to purchase in the future. Thank you all for you assistance, I really appreciate all of your guidance.

Best,

Archiphile

[RayvenHawk]

So I think that I have fixed most of what has been talked about before. I am coming up with one error that I do not understand.
Error is as follows:

switches.cpp(64) : fatal error C1075: end of file found before the left brace '{' 
switches - 1 error(s), 0 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

If any one could not just tell me how to fix it,but the why behind it would be great. Thank you all for your assistance.

Best,

Archiphile

The meaning behind this error is that you are missing a } somewhere in your code.

For every "(" there has to be a ")" to match it otherwise it'll generate an error message. Same goes for "{" you need to make sure you have an "}" to accompany it.

I know with Visual Studio when it generates and error you can double click the error message and it will take you to where in your code the error occurred.

Now as for your error, you need to add another } at the end of the program to complete the { you did for int main().