Using ASCII characters in C++ program

Question

I've been trying to print out _ <------ this character in a 2D array... But when I

tried compiling the code, it returned some garbage numbers. I think I'm doing something wrong... can anyone please help me out to solve this problem ?

void main (){

    int A[9][9];

    for (int i=0; i<9; i++){
        for (int j=0; j<i; j++){
            A[i][j]= '_';//I am doing this part wrong. 
        }

    }

    for (int r=0; r<9; r++) {
        for (int c=0; c<9; c++)
            cout << setw(3) << A[r][c];
        cout << endl;
    }

    system("pause");
}

You didn't try it with int before attempting int [][], did you? — Beta
– Beta, Commented Apr 13, 2013 at 4:59
In addition to A being the wrong type, you are not assigning all the elements: for (int j=0; j<i; j++) --> for (int j=0; j<9; j++) — Benjamin Lindley
– Benjamin Lindley, Commented Apr 13, 2013 at 5:03

Superman · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-13 05:00:39Z

1

A is an int array. So cout would try to print an integer. Try cout << char(A[r][c]);

answered Apr 13, 2013 at 5:00

Superman

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Comments

user529758 · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-13 05:01:06Z

1

The std::cout::operator<< operator is overloaded for several data types in order to facilitate (automagically-)formatted output. If you feed it an int, then it will print a number. If you give it a char, it will try to print it as a character. So either declare your array as an array of char, or cast the array member when printing:

cout << static_cast<char>(array[i][j]) << endl;

answered Apr 13, 2013 at 5:01

user529758

Comments

LionsDen · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-13 05:45:54Z

0

~~1. Assign the ASCII value to integer array rather than '_'. It will work even without change; but i feel it looks cleaner.~~

~~A[i][j]= 95; // try this instead of '_'~~

While printing, cout can print any data type without casting, but since we are looking for character to be printed, try explicit conversion.
```
cout << setw(3) << char(A[r][c]);
```
Not sure about the compiler you are using, but its a better practice to initialize the array to avoid garbage value tampering with your output

edited Apr 13, 2013 at 5:45

answered Apr 13, 2013 at 5:15

LionsDen

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4 Comments

Benjamin Lindley Over a year ago

1) Why? How is that an improvement?

LionsDen Over a year ago

By the time i posted my answer the above two got posted, i personally like answer of @H2CO3 . Use of static_cast is always preferred and correct.

Benjamin Lindley Over a year ago

But on your first point. The meaning of A[i][j] = '_'; is clear. So why would you replace it with A[i][j] = 95; which will just make the people reading your code wonder why? (and is theoretically less portable)

LionsDen Over a year ago

Agree. I didn't thought about portability. +1 for that. Was taught to assign like data types. Edited the answer. Thanks.

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