Also, if you're coding in C++, you
need to gain a least a basic understanding of classes. They (along with Polymorphism) form the backbone of C++'s object oriented nature.
Added: and document your code! Even if you do it after the fact, and even if you're gonna be the only one looking at it, it's a good habit, and will help you remember what does what if you take a break for awhile. If you ever program in a professional environment, you will NEED to comment and document your code. More programmers work in teams (there's a reason the PSPToolChain is stored on a Subversion repository), so this is a good habit to pick up.
For example, here's the documentation of my Menu_Item<TARGET> class. Some of the formatting is messed up, due to the way the forum editor handles tabs, but you get the idea.
Code:
// Class : Menu_Item
// Author : Elias Fox
// Contact : andorien@comcast.net
// Creation Date : March 10th, 2006
// Last Modified : March 11th, 2006
//
// Purpose
// ----------------------
// Creates a menu item, containing a picture, size, position, and target.
//
// Useage
// ----------------------
// This class is designed to be used within a Vertical_Menu or Horizontal_Menu class. However, it is possible to use it outside of
// that context. Before you attempt to use it, you MUST either run the alternate constructor, Menu_Item::Initialize, or run
// Menu_Item::Place, LoadTarget, AND LoadImage.
//
// Templated Data Types
// TARGET : The class type that this menu item will be linking to. The class MUST have a method named Execute(void), or else it will not function.
//
// Methods
// ----------------------
// Menu_Item(void)
// Default constructor. Sets all variables to 0 and all pointers to NULL
//
// Menu_Item(int nInputX, int nInputY, int nInputXSize, int nInputYSize, string strInputIcon, TARGET tInputTarget)
// Alternate constructor. Initializes all values and loads images.
// Parameters
// nInputX = Object's position on the X axis
// nInputY = Object's position on the Y axis
// nInputXSize = Object's image's width
// nInputYSize = Object's image's height
// strInputIcon = Filename of the object's image
// tInputTarget = Class object the object will link to
//
// void GotoTarget(void)
// Method that, when called, will call the Execute(void) method of the linked class. It must contain an Execute(void) method to work
//
// void Place(int nInputX, int nInputY)
// Sets the X and Y position of the object.
// Parameters
// nInputX = Object's position on the X axis
// nInputY = Object's position on the Y axis
// nInputXSize = Object's image's width
// nInputYSize = Object's image's height
// strInputIcon = Filename of the object's image
// tInputTarget = Class object the object will link to
//
// void Display(void)
// Displays the object on the screen (or more specificly, its picture). Note that this will not swap the buffers, you must still do it
// yourself
//
// void LoadTarget(TARGET tInput)
// Loads the object the Menu_Item class object will link to
// Parameters
// tInputTarget = Class object the object will link to
//
// void Initialize(int nInputX, int nInputY, int nInputXSize, int nInputYSize, string strInputIcon, TARGET tInputTarget)
// Initializes all values and loads images.
// Parameters
// nInputX = Object's position on the X axis
// nInputY = Object's position on the Y axis
// nInputXSize = Object's image's width
// nInputYSize = Object's image's height
// strInputIcon = Filename of the object's image
// tInputTarget = Class object the object will link to
// Return Values
// true = Image loading sucessful
// false = Image loading failed
//
// bool LoadImage(string strInputIcon, int nInputXSize, int nInputYSize)
// Loads the image for the object's icon
// Parameters
// strInputIcon = Filename of the object's image
// nInputXSize = Object's image's width
// nInputYSize = Object's image's height
// Return Values
// true = Image loading sucessful
// false = Image loading failed
//
// int GetX(void)
// Returns the object's current position on the X axis
//
// int GetY(void)
// Returns the object's current position on the Y axis
//
// int GetXSize(void)
// Returns the object's image's current width
//
// int GetYSize(void)
// Returns the object's image's current height
Understanding Basic Programming Ideas
