Quick question regarding IF ELSE

[Hydrasin]

Hi, noob here with a quick question.... In the following code I'm trying to initialize int limit with a value using the if else statement. However when I try to compile, the compiler says that the limit variable is uninitialized. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to correct it? Thanks in advance....


#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;


int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
int cyear;

cout << "What is the current year?" << endl;
cin >> cyear;

if(cyear > 1980)
int limit = 10;
else
int limit = 5;

cout << limit << endl;

system("pause");
return 0;
}

[vlad from moscow]

In fact the code

if(cyear > 1980)
int limit = 10;
else
int limit = 5;

looks like

if(cyear > 1980)
{
   int limit = 10;
}
else
{
   int limit = 5;
}

that is limit are local variables that are alive until 'if' and 'else' are executed.

To correct your code you should write

int limit;
if(cyear > 1980)
limit = 10;
else
limit = 5;

[Hydrasin]

Hi Vlad, thanks for you quick response, but I tried what you suggested and I'm still getting the same error: int limit is being used without being initialized. I understand that the limit variable is local within the if and else statements, how can I get them to return their values to the main argument?

[AARGH]

or if you wish to keep the limit variables local you can simply add the cout statements into the loop.

if(cyear > 1980)
{
    int limit = 10;
    cout << limit << endl;
}
else
{
    int limit = 5;
    cout << limit << endl;
}

[vlad from moscow]

You cannot get the same error. Please show your updated code.

[Hydrasin]

// ifyear.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;


int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
int cyear;

cout << "What is the current year?" << endl;
cin >> cyear;

int limit; //---------------update

if(cyear > 1980)
int limit = 10;
else
int limit = 5;

cout << limit << endl;

system("pause");
return 0;
}

[vlad from moscow]

You did not update the code as I showed.

The following shall be

int limit; //---------------update

if(cyear > 1980)
limit = 10;
else
limit = 5;

[Hydrasin]

Oh ok, looks like its working now, thank you for the help!