Please help me develop draw nested squares C++

[wazzup]

C++ is new to me and I'm trying solve this problem but get stuck. Please help me out. Below is the task and after that is what i got so far.

Create a program to print nested squares 
Input: Accept the width of the largest square 
Output: A series of nested squares with 1 space between them
Sample:
> eca4.exe 10
**********
*        *
* ****** *
* *    * *
* * ** * *
* * ** * *
* *    * *
* ****** *
*        *
**********

I thought algorithm for this would be.

* Top Lines of inside squares would be 1-8 , 1-3 - 6-8 (Don't count first and last lines of largest square)

* Bottom Lines of inside squares would be 2-7, 2-4 5-7 (Don't count first and last lines of largest square)

Here is what I got so far. Please help me with some ideas to develop

#include <iostream>                 //Required if your program does any I/O
#include <string>                   //Required if your program uses C++ strings
using namespace std;                //Required for ANSI C++ 1998 standard.
 
 
 
void drawRectangle(int w, char symbol)
{     
 
    for ( int i = 0; i < w; i++)                   //How many Lines we need to draw?
    {
        if(i == 0 || i == (w - 1))                 //Is it the first line or the last line?
        {
             for(int cFnL = 0; cFnL < w; cFnL++)   //Print out full char for the first and the last line
             {
                     cout << symbol;
             }
             cout << endl;
        }
        else                                       //Draw middle lines
        {
             if(i % 2 == 0 && i < (w/2))
             {  
                     for(int cFnL = 0; cFnL < w; cFnL++)   // Top half of top side of inside squares
                     {
                             cout << "-";
                     }
                     cout << endl;  
             }
             else if(i % 2 == 1 && i >= (w/2))
             {
                     for(int cFnL = 0; cFnL < w; cFnL++)   //Bottom haft of bottom side of inside squares
                     {
                             cout << "-";
                     }
                     cout << endl; 
             }
             else
             {
                     for(int cFnL = 0; cFnL < w; cFnL++)   //Space lines between squares
                     {
                             cout << " ";
                     }
                     cout << endl; 
             }
        }
    }
}
 
int main (int argc, char **argv)    //Arguments to main are command line arguments
{
    char reply;                     //A character variable to hold user input
    int iWidth;
 
    cout << "Enter integer the Width of the largest square: ";
    cin >> iWidth;
    cout << endl;
 
    drawRectangle(iWidth, '*');       //Call function to draw out
 
    cout << endl;
 
 
    // This section stops the program 'flashing' off the screen.
    cout << "Press q (or any other key) followed by 'Enter' to quit: ";
    cin >> reply;
    return 0;
}

[AdrianH]

C++ is new to me and I'm trying solve this problem but get stuck. Please help me out. Below is the task and after that is what i got so far.

Create a program to print nested squares 
Input: Accept the width of the largest square 
Output: A series of nested squares with 1 space between them
Sample:
> eca4.exe 10
**********
*        *
* ****** *
* *    * *
* * ** * *
* * ** * *
* *    * *
* ****** *
*        *
**********

I thought algorithm for this would be.

* Top Lines of inside squares would be 1-8 , 1-3 - 6-8 (Don't count first and last lines of largest square)

* Bottom Lines of inside squares would be 2-7, 2-4 5-7 (Don't count first and last lines of largest square)

I don't understand. What do you mean by Top Lines and Bottom Lines? Can you please point them out in your diagram?

Thanks,


Adrian

[wazzup]

The way I explained may not clear.

Basicly, I meant that we have 10 char * for each crossing lines (left to right)

The second crossing line we have 2 *. ( in loops to 10, position of those was 0 and 9)

The fourth crossing line we have 4 * ( in loops to 10, position of those was 0 2 7 9)
The fith crossing line we have 6 * ( in loops to 10, position of those was 0 2 4 5 7 9)

All of those lines I called Top Sides of squares ( Square have 4 sides: top, left, right, bottom) and Opposite of those crossing lines, I called Bottom Squares Sides

I don't know how to make a loops that keep add on 2 more *
Please help me out. Thanks much!

[AdrianH]

Ok, I ran your programme and got this:

Enter integer the Width of the largest square: 10
 
**********
 
----------
 
----------
----------
 
----------
 
**********
 
Press q (or any other key) followed by 'Enter' to quit: 
 

This looks like you’ve got the horizontal lines working. What you need now is to get the vertical lines and the top and bottom of the boxes to show.

Let’s try and break this down.

The place of the first set of dashes you have drawn, it should draw the vertical lines of the outer box and the top face of the inner one.

In place of the next set of dashes should be drawn the vertical lines of the outer two boxes and the top face of the inner one.

In place of the next set of dashes should be drawn the vertical lines of the outer two boxes and the bottom face of the inner one.

And finally, in place of the next set of dashes should be drawn the vertical lines of the outer boxes and the bottom face of the inner one.

Can you see how you can use which line you are on to draw what I have stated?

Give it a shot and let me know your progress.


Adrian

[wazzup]

Thanks for reply. But what you're saying that where I got stuck. Maybe I explain not really clear

First dashes line, there are 2 blanks and the Second dashes line has 4 blanks.

I really don't know how to make the loops skip 2 blanks at first dashes line and 4 blanks at second dashes line and go on...

[wazzup]

Here is what I meant

**********
 
- ------ - // <-- I want to skip 2 blanks here
 
- - -- - - // <-- I want to skip 4 blanks here
----------
 
----------

[AdrianH]

Here is what I meant

**********
 
- ------ - // <-- I want to skip 2 blanks here
 
- - -- - - // <-- I want to skip 4 blanks here
----------
 
----------

Right, so you know what you want outputted, this is essential. Without a target you won’t know if you are done. :).

Now, in the code you know what line you are on when you print out a line. So based on this information, you have a way of determining what to print.

i.e. From the code’s perspective:

1. I am on the 0th line, so I need to draw a line across the top, w chars wide
2. I am on the 2nd line, so I need to draw a line across the top, w-2 chars wide. PLUS, I also need to draw 2 chars on either side to represent the outer box and the space between boxes.
3. I am on the 4th line, so I need to draw a line across the top, w-4 chars wide. PLUS, I also need to draw 4 chars on either side to represent the outer boxes and the space between boxes.

Note: the first point can be generalised to match the other 2 points as you are outputting 0 chars on either side to represent the nonexistent outer box.

Now what I have outlined here is for doing the top half. You will need to modify this algorithm to do the bottom half.

Does this make sense? Try it out and let me know how you are making out.


Adrian

[wazzup]

After many fails, I figure it out the way to solve. I wrote the code and seem to works but when I try to enter an odd number for input, program gave me wrong results. How can I develop this? Please help!

<code removed>

[wazzup]

Finally, I got it. This problem took me more than 5 hours. Hahha. Such a dummy! Thanks for all the helps!

[Ganon11]

Awesome! Good to see you figured it out.