Need assistance with a dynamic structure assignment of a char type value

[delta552]

Hello,
I am attempting to use a dynamic array with a structure to assign a string to a value in the structure (I appologize for the bad wording, I haven't been programing in C++ for very long), however, I get an error when I try to compile the program.
The error(s) are:
Lvalue required in function main()
Pointer to structure required on left side of -> or ->* in function main()
and again:
Lvalue required in function main()

The code that the errors refers to is:

candyBar * ps = new candyBar[3];
ps[0].brand = "Hersheys";
ps[1]->brand = "Snickers";
ps[2].brand = "M&Ms";

I declared my structure as follows:

struct candyBar
{
char brand[];
float weight;
int calories;
};

I am using Borland C++ 5.5.1, it is a compiler only, there is no IDE.

Any help would be very appreciated, and thanks in advance for a quick reply.

[z05DSL3A]

ps[1]->brand = "Snickers"; should be ps[1].brand = "Snickers";

I would also expect your compiler to error on char brand[]; along the lines of illegal zero-sized array.

[delta552]

That gives me the same error as the other two:
Lvalue required in function main()
If it would help, I can post my entire program, those are only parts of it, by the compiler says that everything else is fine.

[z05DSL3A]

It would probably help if you posted more code (use the # button to format it).

I'm about to head off home, someone else may help further or I'll look at it later on (in a few hours).

[delta552]

Ok, here is the entire program:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
struct candyBar
{
  char brand[];
  float weight;
  int calories;
};
int main()
{
  candyBar * ps = new candyBar[3];
  ps[0].brand = "Hersheys";
  ps[0].weight = 3.2;
  ps[0].calories = 23;
  cout << "Brand: " << ps[0].brand;
  cout << "\nWeight: " << ps[0].weight;
  cout << "\nCalories: " << ps[0].calories << "\n";
  ps[1].brand = "Snickers";
  ps[1].weight = 4.0;
  ps[1].calories = 35;
  cout << "\nBrand: " << ps[1].brand;
  cout << "\nWeight: " << ps[1].weight;
  cout << "\nCalories: " << ps[1].calories << "\n";
  ps[2].brand = "M&Ms";
  ps[2].weight = 2.4;
  ps[2].calories = 28;
  cout << "\nBrand: " << ps[2].brand;
  cout << "\nWeight: " << ps[2].weight;
  cout << "\nCalories: " << ps[2].calories << "\n";
  delete [] ps;
  cin.get();
  return 0;
}

[jlamothe]

char brand[];
is not legal.

When you declare an array, you need to tell it how many elements it has. Also, you cannot assign a value to an array of characters simply by saying
brand = "string";

You have two options. You can change it to a pointer:
char *brand;

or (I recommend this) you can use a string instead:
string brand;

If you use the string, you'll need to add
#include <string>
to your list of headers.

[delta552]

Ah ha!!!! Thank you all very much! Mwahahahaha! (Continues to laugh maniacally as he compiles his program).

Sorry, I also do some creative writing. Anyway, the program compiled successfully, and thanks again.