arrays in header files

[newbieg]

I'm trying to make a class with an array in it, but I'm having trouble with declaring an array between a header file and the .cpp, can someone tell me how to write that or what I need to change?

header "players.h";

#pragma once
#include "base.h";
class players: public base
{
private:
	char* itemstats;
	char* modmove[4];

public:
	players(void);

	~players(void);
};

"players.cpp";

#include "players.h"


players::players(void)
{
	itemstats = "null";
	modmove[4] = {"null","null","null","null"};

}


players::~players(void)
{
}

Eventually the modmove array and itemstats variable will be linked to player moves and held-items that will affect player's stats.

I just started this code because I'm trying to learn inheritance, but the array just got me held up, so I don't really want to continue with it until I figure out to code an array between header and .cpp. Thank you.

P.S. this is not homework, I'm just learning C++ on my spare time.

[JLBorges]

// header
#include <vector>
#include <string>

class players
{
    private:
      std::string itemstats ;
      std::vector<std::string> modmove ;

    public:
      players() ;
};

// cpp
players::players() : modmove(4) // initialize modmove with four empty strings
                                // itemstats is default initialized to an empty string,
{
    // ...
}

http://www.mochima.com/tutorials/strings.html
http://www.mochima.com/tutorials/vectors.html

[newbieg]

Thanks JLBorges, I haven't used vectors yet, mostly because my book hasn't covered them yet and I didn't want to jump ahead, but I'll take a look at the tutorials.

I found a work-around where I could declare each member in my array individually or through a while loop, but vectors would probably be the way to go, I kind of have an idea of how they work.

Thanks again!

[dreamincolor]

vectors are good but its important to understand arrays too - I would suggest something like this

players.cpp

#include "players.h"


players::players(void)
{
	itemstats = "null";
	for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
		modmove[i] = "null";
}


players::~players(void)
{
}

players.h

#pragma once
#include "base.h";
class players : public base
{
private:
	char* itemstats;
	char* modmove[4];

public:
	players(void);

	~players(void);
};

Basically the idea here is you cannot value-initialize an array like you had - you have to step through the array and give each element the value you want - this is easily accomplished with a for loop

[JLBorges]

> but vectors would probably be the way to go

Certainly yes. Especially when you are just starting out with C++


>> but its important to understand arrays too

Eventually, yes.

However, understanding the intricacies of arrays is not of central importance right now; learning programming is. Arrays can wait. Just use std::vector<>.