Dynamic Array issue

[bhp2005]

Having a problem setting user input to a dynamic array. It worked with a static array, but now I'm having some kind of pointer issue. The user sets the dimensions and enters in a number of characters, which should be set to the array 'gameboard'. it's just setting jibberish though. Any help or advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

char **gameboard = NULL;
gameboard = new char*[dimen];

for (int row = 0; row < dimen; row++)
{
       gameboard[row] = new char[dimen];

}
for (int n = 0; n < (dimen * dimen); n++)
{
	*((char*)gameboard +n) =  tolower( (cin >> ws).get() );
}

[tkud]

Can you post your full code, please? We might understand your problem that way.

[syd919]

Like tkud said, try sending more of your code so we can understand your problem better. also, the variable "dimen" specifies the number of rows right?

[bhp2005]

sorry, here is the rest of the code. It's actually a boggle game based on this thread: http://www.daniweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138662&highlight=use+dictionary+C%2B%2B&page=2
but I need to be able to change the board size based on user input.
Also, yes 'dimen' is the row, but it is also the column, since it is always a square board.

#include <algorithm>
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

char **gameboard = NULL;

bool validate_word( const string& word, int row, int col, int index, int touched )

{

if ((unsigned)index == word.length()) return true;	//check last letter of word

for (int r = -1; r < 2; r++)	//check adjacent rows

for (int c = -1; c < 2; c++)	//check adjacent columns

{

if (((row +r) < 0) || ((row +r) > 3) || ((col +c) < 0) || ((col +c) > 3)) continue; //check if the adjacent rows and columns exist (check for edges)

int mask = 1 << (((row +r) *4) +col +c);

if (((touched & mask) == 0)

&& (gameboard[ row +r ][ col +c ] == word[ index ]))

if (validate_word( word, row +r, col +c, (word[ index ] == 'q') ? index +2 : index +1, touched | mask ))

return true;

}

return false;

}

void process_word( const string& word )

{

if ((3 > word.length()) || (word.length() > 17)) return;

for (int row = 0; row < 4; row++)

for (int col = 0; col < 4; col++)

if (gameboard[ row ][ col ] == word[ 0 ])	//check if the current element is equal to the first letter of the current word

if (validate_word( word, row, col, (word[ 0 ] == 'q') ? 2 : 1, (1 << ((row *4) +col)) ))	//check the rest of the word

cout << word << '\n';	//print the word if it works

}

int main()

{

	string dict_name;
	int dimen;

	cout << "Please enter the name of the dictionary file you would like to use: ";
	cin >> dict_name;
	cout << "Please enter the height of the board you want to use: ";
	cin >> dimen;
	cerr << "Enter the gameboard. Use just 'Q' for 'Qu'.\n";
	
	gameboard = new char*[dimen];
for (int row = 0; row < dimen; row++)
{
       gameboard[row] = new char[dimen]; 

}

	for (int n = 0; n < (dimen * dimen); n++)
	{

//this next line should be setting each element of the board to an input letter, but when debugging, it is setting them to jibberish characters
		*((char*)gameboard +n) =  tolower( (cin >> ws).get() );
	}
	ifstream dictionary(dict_name);

	if (!dictionary) return 1;

	for_each( istream_iterator <string> ( dictionary ), istream_iterator <string> (), process_word );

	dictionary.close();

	return 0;

}

[mattjbond]

instead of allocating arrays of char pointers try allocating a contiguous region of chars which is large enough to hold the whole board.

Eg. board width = 10
board height = 5;

char *board = new char[width * height];

now you can simply index into the char array using a combination of the row and column you wish to edit.

board[ column + row * width ];

[bhp2005]

Fixed it! Thanks so much for your help!