Re: CArray vs CMap

Hi John,

"John" <durga_vc@hotmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:uirfpLPzIHA.4376@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...


You're welcome.


CMap and CArray are both valid tools, but for different tasks.

If the key is an integer represented by item position, then there is no
doubt in choosing CArray< Class >.

But if you want to access the items stored in a container using a different
kind of key, for example a string, then CMap is the tool to choose.
(Note that there are also STL containers, like std::vector, std::map, etc.
which seems to be more carefully designed than MFC containers, at the cost
of maybe a bit more hard learning curve. However, STL containers with their
"ecosystem" of iterators and algorithms are a very versatile and powerful
tool, if you can invest some time and intellectual energy to learn them.)

I would suggest a series of articles illustrating some data structures, that
is written for C# but can be very useful for the C++ programmer, too:

Algorithms and Data Structures
An Extensive Examination of Data Structures (2.0)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/aa336800.aspx

In particular, you may read the first two parts (when arrays and hashtables
are explained).

HTH,
Giovanni