Question

I have an issue how to implement to compare two static arrays, ie.

string bufferNames[]={"apple","orange","banana","pomegranate","pear"};
string bufferPictures[] = {"apple.bmp","orange.bmp","banana.bmp","pomegranate.bmp","pear.bmp"};

Each item in the bufferNames presents the choice that to someone has been given, when the picture from the bufferPictures has been loaded onto the screen. So, if I for example get orange.bmp using rand() function that iterates through that list, how can I get the same one corresponding element orange and two other random not correct elements. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. If further breaking in of the problem is needed, just say it so.

Answer 1

This should do it. The code makes use of the C++11 features. You will
need to adapt it, to pass it off as homework.

#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>

struct Picture {
  std::string name, file;
  bool operator==(const Picture& x) const { return this->name == x.name && this->file == x.file; }
  bool operator!=(const Picture& x) const { return !(*this == x); }

};

int main()
{
  std::vector< Picture > pics = 
    {
      {"apple", "apple.bmp"},
      {"orange", "orange.bmp"},
      {"banana", "banana.bmp"},
      {"pear", "pear.bmp"},
    };

  // determined by random choice
  const Picture& choice = pics[0];

  std::vector< Picture > woChoice;
  std::copy_if(pics.begin(), pics.end(), std::back_inserter(woChoice), 
               [&choice](const Picture& x) {
                 return x != choice;
               });

  // random shuffle the remainder and pick the first
  // two. alternatively and for more efficience use std::random to
  // generate indices
  std::random_shuffle(woChoice.begin(), woChoice.end());
  std::cout << woChoice[0].name << std::endl;
  std::cout << woChoice[1].name << std::endl;

  return 0;
}