How would one make a test maker?

[cheawick]

Me and my big fat mouth! My roomie is having troubles taking tests, so I offered to make a test program so that she could bone up on her material. I know how to hardcode such a beast, but that wouldn't help either of us in the respect that it would not be a very flexible program.
How would one go about: user can add, delete, modify the questions and subject. I'm sure there is more I haven't even thought about, but perhaps this will give me a start.
By the way, she don't know jack about computers. She still doesn't understand why her credit card won't work in the floppy drive.

[Valmont]

Why not learn the ways of std::vector? Then you can add, delete and modify whatever you want.

[redhead]

hardcode all the routines, but let it read/store the test information in a textfile, something like this:

question 1
answer 1
question 2
answer 2
...

Make the program in C++, using string and the <vector> class perhaps with a class like:

class test {
    private:
        string question;
        string answer;
        void test();
        void test(string q);
    public:
        void test(string q, string a)
        {
             question = q;
              answer = a;
         };
         string get_question(void)
         {
              return question;
          };
         string get_answer(void)
         {
              return answer;
          };
}

And then in the program use it something like this:

int main()
{
    ifstream file("my_test.txt");
    vector <test> my_test;
    string read_question, read_answer;
    while(!file.eof())
     {
          if(!file.getline(read_question, '\n'))
          {
               cout << "Error reding question from file" << endl;
               return -1;
           }
            if(!file.getline(read_answer, '\n'))
           {
               cout << "Error reding answer from file" << endl;
               return -1;
           }
           test temp_test(read_question, read_answer);
           my_test.push_back(temp_test);
     }
      file.close();
     /* do what ever loops you want with the my_test vector */
}

[cheawick]

Valmont, what is std::vector? I don't think I've run across that one yet.

Redhead, that file access is what I'd like to learn. But how would I separate her subjects? I know she needs one for biochemestry and one for immunology (I think I spelled that right). Or is it possible to make a subject maker?

Thanks ya'll!

[cheawick]

Gah! I forgot this earlier. What is the addy for DevC++? I'm on my emergency computer since lightening nailed my main one. I don't have ANY programming tools or tutorials on this one.

[redhead]

Redhead, that file access is what I'd like to learn. But how would I separate her subjects?

then keep teh subjects in seperate files, and have it like:

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
    if(argc != 2)
    {
         cout << "Usage: " << argv[0] << " <file_name>" << endl;
         return -1;
    }
    ifstream file(argv[1]);
    if(!file.is_good())
    {
         cout << "Error opening file: " << argv[1] << endl;
         return -1;
    }
    vector <test> my_test;
    string read_question, read_answer;
    while(!file.eof())
    {
       .....

[cheawick]

Alrighty, er... What header file do I need to include to access the file operations? I never got that advanced in the books I bought. Pointers and arrays kept kicking my tail.

[redhead]

#include <iostream>
#include <ifstream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

[cheawick]

Thanks! Hey, you know of any links or something that may help my understanding of this? I can read the code, but I don't understand the usage per se.

[cheawick]

I know I've been outta the programming loop for about a year, but I can't even get my clear screen portion of the program to work. How annoying.

This is what I have so far.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <dos.h>

#define VIDEO 0x10  //video interrupt
#define COLS 80     //screen width
#define ROWS 25     //screen rows

void cls(void);
void locate(int col,int row);

int main()
{
    cls();

    printf ("TestMaker v1.0");

    return 0;
}

void cls(void)
{
    union REGS regs;
    regs.h.ah=0x06;         //func 6, scroll window
    regs.h.al=0x00;         //clear screen
    regs.h.bh=0x07;         //make screen "blank"
    regs.h.ch=0x00;         //upper left row
    regs.h.cl=0x00;         //upper left column
    regs.h.dh=ROWS-1;       //lower right row
    regs.h.dl=COLS-1;       //lower right column
    int86(VIDEO,&regs,&regs);
    locate(0,0);             //home the cursor
}

void locate(int col,int row)
{
    union REGS regs;
    regs.h.ah=0x02;         //vid func 2, move cursor
    regs.h.bh=0x00;         //video screen (always 0)
    regs.h.dh=row;          //cursor row position
    regs.h.dl=col;          //cursor column position
    int86(VIDEO,&regs,&regs);
}

[cheawick]

Aw hell. I just noticed my oops. I forgot to include the "}" at the very end. Grrr! Well, if anyone has a better suggestion for clearing screens no matter the platform, lemme know please.

[cheawick]

Blast it all!!! The bracket is there, it just didn't copy over. I'll keep plugging away as best as I can, but any advice would be appreciated.

[cheawick]

I think I may be mixing up C and C++ again. remove the remarks and the program don't run at all.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <dos.h>
#include <fstream.h>

/*
#define VIDEO 0x10 //video interrupt
#define COLS 80 //screen width
#define ROWS 25 //screen rows
*/
//void cls(void);
//void locate(int col,int row);

int main()
{
int x=0;

//cls();

printf ("TestMaker v1.0\n");
printf ("05/15/2005\n");
printf ("\n\n\n\n");
printf ("MAIN MENU:\n\n");
printf ("A) TAKE A TEST\n");
printf ("B) FLASH CARD Q&A\n");
printf ("C) EDIT MATERIAL MENU\n");
printf ("D) MATERIAL OPTIONS\n");
//textcolor(6);
//textbackground(0);
cprintf ("\nQ) QUIT (EXIT PROGRAM)\n");

getchar(x);

return 0;
}
/*
void cls(void)
{
union REGS regs;
regs.h.ah=0x06; //func 6, scroll window
regs.h.al=0x00; //clear screen
regs.h.bh=0x07; //make screen "blank"
regs.h.ch=0x00; //upper left row
regs.h.cl=0x00; //upper left column
regs.h.dh=ROWS-1; //lower right row
regs.h.dl=COLS-1; //lower right column
int86(VIDEO,&regs,&regs);
locate(0,0); //home the cursor
}

void locate(int col,int row)
{
union REGS regs;
regs.h.ah=0x02; //vid func 2, move cursor
regs.h.bh=0x00; //video screen (always 0)
regs.h.dh=row; //cursor row position
regs.h.dl=col; //cursor column position
int86(VIDEO,&regs,&regs);
}
*/

[Valmont]

Get the engine up and running before coding anything else. You got the order totally wrong.

[cheawick]

Sorry Valmont, what order have I gotten wrong? If you are perhaps referring to the clear screen, it is a snippet program I have used for a number of years- hence my confusion as to why the heck it is not working. <Sigh> Too bad programs are not like wine, which gets better over time, code simply becomes obsolete.