C++ Functions | Review of Functions help

Language Help C++
1

At the end of the Functions section of the C++ course, there’s an optional project to create a function to run a repeated bit of input and output. Since it’s the review portion, there’s no hints or ‘show solution’ button, so I’m at a loss for understanding where I went wrong.

#include <iostream>

int main() {
  
  // Conduct IT support
  std::string it_support() {
  std::string on_off_attempt;
  std::cout << "Hello. IT.\n";
  std::cout << "Have you tried turning it off and on again? y/n\n";
  std::cin >> on_off_attempt;
  }
  
  // Check in with Jenn
  std::cout << "Oh hi Jen!\n";
  
  // Conduct IT support again...
 it_support();

  // Check in with Roy
  std::cout << "You stole the stress machine? But that's stealing!\n";
  
  // Conduct IT support yet again...zzzz...
  it_support();

}

Apparently it_support(); isn’t declared. What am I missing? The review portion has no hints or the ‘Show Solution’ button, so I’m at a loss.

2

Hello, @codeblaster44138, and welcome to the forums.

Could you post a link to the exercise? Also please review How do I format code in my posts?, to see how to make your code appear in future posts as it does now. (I edited it.)

1 Like
3

You’re declaring it in your main function, you should declare the function outside your main function (either above, or below).

Example:

void foo()
{
    //foo definition goes here
}

int main()
{
   foo();
   return 0;
}

or

void foo(); // you can declare it here and define it below

int main()
{
   foo(); 
   //since c++ is compiled, it's ok to have it in the main, 
   //as it will be defined after
   //compilation in your output file.
   return 0;
}

void foo()
{
   //foo definition goes here
}

In many contexts the latter is more readable.

There’s also the matter of how you’re taking in your string. Since it’s a char in this case you’re totally fine, but if it needed to be a word with a space you would get into a little bit of trouble. I only say this not to associate a straightforward cin with string.

Example:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int main()
{
    std::string s;
    std::cout << "Please say something: ";
    std::cin >> s;
    std::cout << "\n" << s;
    return 0;
}

Output:

Please say something: something

out >>> something

Please say something: hello world

out >>> hello
!! not what we want

so a follow-up thing to do is to look up how to take in a string input with spaces.

1 Like
4

Had a feeling it’d be something (relatively) obvious I missed. Thanks :smiley:

5

No worries, to me C++ is one of the least obvious languages. So I’m always ready to be destroyed by it hahahhahah.