Pointer or &

[puppymew]

The program should have a menu that allows the user to perform the following tasks:

1. To enter the source file name.
2. To enter the destination file name.
3. To encrypt from the source to the destination file.
4. To decrypt from the source to the destination file.

I used a switch statement for this program. I don't know how to allow the user to create a filename (1&2) but I can access the file names during encryption and decryption.

case 1:
cout<<"Enter the input file name";
cin>>input;
case 2:
cout<<"Enter the out file name";
cin>>out ;

How do I pass those file names to case 3 and 4 for the encryption/decryption?
using &? *?
Thanks.

[vlad from moscow]

Can you simply rewrite your menu? For example

1. To encrypt from the source to the destination file.
2. To decrypt from the source to the destination file.
3. Exit

And if the user select either #1 or #2 then ask him

Enter the source file name: bla..bla..bla
Enter the destination file name: bla...bla...bla

[puppymew]

no it has to be these 4 options

[rmxhaha]

pointer (*) or dereference (&) pretty much have the same function with different interface
so it's just a matter of preferences

Anyway how do you plan on using the pointer
it's just easier to pass the string

void decrypt( const string& in, const string& out ){
// your code here
}

int main(){
string infilename, outfilename;
int inputInt;

cin >> inputInt;

switch( inputInt ){
case 1:
cin >> infilename;
break;
case 2:
cin >> outfilename;
break;
case 3:
encrypt( infilename, outfilename );
break;
case 4:
decrypt( infilename, outfilename );
break;

}
}

Haven't test my own code
but it should look something like that if that what you want, I think