initializing a const multidimensional array in c++

Question

I'm currently working through some exercises in a c++ book, which uses text based games as its teaching tool. The exercise I am stuck on involves getting the pc to select a word from a const array of words (strings), mixing the letters up and asking the player to guess the word. This was easy, but as a follow on the book asks to add the option to provide a hint to the player to help them guess, firstly as a parallel array (again, no problem) and then as a 2 dimensional array. This is where I'm stuck. My (shortened) array of words is as follows:

const string WORDS[NUM_WORDS] = {"wall", "glasses"};

I need to provide a hint for each of these words but not sure how to go about it. Posting this from phone so extensive googling is not an option!

My parallel array was as follows:

const string HINTS[NUM_WORDS] = "brick...", "worn on head"};

Just need to combine the two.

Thanks in advance, Barry

Answer 1

you could make 2d array?

string aArray[][2] = {{"wall", "brick..."}, 
                               {"glasses", "corrective eye tool thingymajig"},
                               {"calculator", "number cruncher"}};

not sure if the syntax is right but i hope you get the concept.

it's an array inside another array.

EDITED: i removed the NUM_WORDS from the first square bracket. you can't declare multi dimentional array from variables.. sorry i forgot about that. i just tested it and it works.

Answer 2

Use a struct array:

typedef struct
{
    string Word;
    string Hint;
}
WORDDEF;

const WORDDEF WordList[] =
{
    {"wall", "brick..."},
    {"glasses", "worn on head"},
    ...
};

Then you refer to them as:

printf ("For entry %d, Word is %s, Hint is %s\n", 1, WordList[1].Word, WordList[1].Hint);