CPSC2620 Fall 2010
Assignment 1
Total points: 100 points 
Due date: Part I - Sept 23 (11:59 pm)
          Part II  Sept 27 (11:59 pm)
          Part III Sept 29 (11:53 pm)

This assignment is concerned with writing a program (C++ class/classes) and a 
test program  that allow the users to draw shapes called "character pictures" 
using ascii characters.    


A character picture is a rectangular array of characters that can be displayed 
on to a computer screen. 

For example, if the character picture object named  cpic has been initialized 
with  the strings "this is an" and  "example" then when displayed on a computer 
screen, it may appear as:

this is an 
example    

Note that the two strings are displayed (on your computer screen) in two rows 
(lines) and that the strings are left-aligned. The first string "this is an" has 
10 characters (including the blanks within it) while the second string has 7 
characters. When displaying the strings as a picture the strings (in the above 
the string "example")  that have fewer characters than the longest string 
(in the above "this is an") are padded with space character to make them the 
same length. 

A character picture can be "framed". For example, if we have a picture containing
the strings 

"this is an" "example"
 
then after framing with the frame character "*" the picture will be displayed as
 
**************
* this is an *
* example    *     
**************

Note that the text and the frame are separated by a space character on the left- 
and the right-margin.     

A picture object, say rightpic, can be added to the right of  another picture 
object, say leftpic, and the result is a new picture where leftpic forms the left
part and rightpic forms the right part of the new picture; leftpic and rightpic 
are not modified. We call the operation addRight. The picture  

**************************
* this is an  this is an *
* example     example    *
**************************

is the result of the operation addRight of 

**************
* this is an *
* example    *     
**************
 
to itself.


A picture object, say bottompic, can be added below  another picture object, say 
toppic, and the result is a new picture where  toppic forms the top part and  
bottompic  forms the bottom part of the new picture; toppic and bottompic are 
not modified. We call the operation addBelow. The picture

**************
* this is an *
* example    *     
* this is an *
* example    *     
**************

is the result of the operation "addBelow" of 

**************
* this is an *
* example    *     
**************

to itself.


Write a class named CharacterPicture such that users of the class can do the 
following.
 
 1. Creates character pictures by reading character strings from 
    (a) the command line  or
    (b) from a given file containing character strings, one string per line, and 
        an optional frame character. If no frame character is provided, a default
        frame character is to be used. You must choose and explain your choice of
        an appropriate character as a default value for the frame. 
 2. A character picture object can also be created 
    (a) as a copy of another character picture object, and 
    (b) as an "empty" character picture.

 3. Displays a picture on the computer screen with or without the frame character.
 
 4. Implements the functions addRight and addBelow as explained. 

 5. Stores pictures as character strings in a file.

 6. Any other member functions that you feel necessary (you must justify why they
    are needed).

 7. A test program to show that each member function of your class works
    correctly. 

Submission:

We will use an incremental submission scheme for this assignment as detailed 
below. This submission style allows you to correct mistakes (on your earlier 
submissions) and therefore gives you opportunities to improve your score. 
Further, you now have the opportunity to get part marks for your assignments. 

(I) In the first part of your submission you only provide the class definition 
    (.h file) and a dummy implementation file (.cc) containing functions without 
    implementation. 

    This part is weighed 20%.

(II) In the second part of your submission you provide class definition (.h) 
     which may have been modified/improved from submission (I) and the 
     implementation (.cc) answering questions 1(a), 2(b), 3, 4, and 7. 

    This part is weighed 50%.

(II) In the third part of your submission you provide the complete solution to 
     all the questions. 

     This part is weighed 30%.

Marks will be awarded as follows.

1. Correctly implements the member functions: 40 points.

2. Class definition meets the problem specification: 10 points.             

3. The code is properly commented: 20 points.

4. The program employs good coding style: 10 points.  

5. The test program tests all member functions for both correct and incorrect 
   inputs: 20 points.    

Total: 100 points