Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

A subset of a larger program is shown below.

This is an IF statement that just won't work and the same has happened in the past on other occasions in this very same program alone while working ok in other parts of the same program further on as well as being ok in other loops. 

It works fine also in other programs in different loops but for some unknown (to me) reason it just won't work here in this loop on this occasion.

I have tried everything to no avail.

Maybe there is some basic syntax that I am contravening in this type of Loop.

Your usual help would be greatly appreciated.

The 'GET' function is intended to stall the run of the loop for viewing of the data.

(Start looking here Please:)

Line_Number : Integer;  

Sentinel : CONSTANT Character:= '~';

Line_Number:= 0;
  
LOOP
  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
  Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
   
 
    IF Total REM 12 = 0 THEN
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
    END IF;

  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ----------------------------------------------------------------");
  END LOOP;
  ?

Austin O' Byrne - aka adacrypt. 

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[gautier_niouzes]

Le samedi 29 novembre 2014 14:28:40 UTC+1, Austin Obyrne a écrit :

> This is an IF statement that just won't work and the same has happened in the past on other occasions in this very same program alone while working ok in other parts of the same program further on as well as being ok in other loops. 

Since Total doesn't change during the loop, the condition is either always True or always False. The IF works as always, but perhaps not in the way you expect... I guess you copy-pasted the IF statement from elsewhere, but then you should have "Line_Number" instead of "Total" to have a stop every 12 output lines.
_________________________ 
Gautier's Ada programming 
http://gautiersblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Ada 
NB: follow the above link for a valid e-mail address 

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 2:03:26 PM UTC, gautier...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Le samedi 29 novembre 2014 14:28:40 UTC+1, Austin Obyrne a écrit :
> 
> > This is an IF statement that just won't work and the same has happened in the past on other occasions in this very same program alone while working ok in other parts of the same program further on as well as being ok in other loops. 
> 
> Since Total doesn't change during the loop, the condition is either always True or always False. The IF works as always, but perhaps not in the way you expect... I guess you copy-pasted the IF statement from elsewhere, but then you should have "Line_Number" instead of "Total" to have a stop every 12 output lines.
> _________________________ 
> Gautier's Ada programming 
> http://gautiersblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Ada 
> NB: follow the above link for a valid e-mail address

I beg your pardon.

Total should not be there - it remained from my last experiment.

This is what I should have posted :-

Start here|:

Line_Number : Integer;  

Sentinel : CONSTANT Character:= '~';

Line_Number:= 0;
  
LOOP
  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
 
  Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
   
 
    IF Line_Number REM 12 = 0 THEN
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
    END IF;

  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ----------------------------------------------------------------");
  END LOOP;

Sorry for confusing matters, please continue if you will - Austin

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2014-11-29, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sorry for confusing matters, please continue if you will - Austin

Reduce the problem to a complete, compilable, test case program and
explain what the specific problem is with the test case you have posted.

I've seen what happens too many times when people post fragments of a
program instead of a complete standalone test case - and quite a bit of
the time the act of generating the test case results in the OP finding
the real problem.

There are at least a couple of issues in the second fragment - turn
it into a standalone program and you should find them.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 3:45:34 PM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2014-11-29, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Sorry for confusing matters, please continue if you will - Austin
> 
> Reduce the problem to a complete, compilable, test case program and
> explain what the specific problem is with the test case you have posted.
> 
> I've seen what happens too many times when people post fragments of a
> program instead of a complete standalone test case - and quite a bit of
> the time the act of generating the test case results in the OP finding
> the real problem.
> 
> There are at least a couple of issues in the second fragment - turn
> it into a standalone program and you should find them.
> 
> Simon.
> 
> -- 
> Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
> Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Thanks Simon,

I'll try that - one of the doubts in my mind is that this program that I am designing is an interactive program that 'gets' inputs from the key board in an email encryption program and is not reading the plaintext characters from an external batch file as I usually do.  I am assuming that the computer stores these inputs in a holding buffer of some kind from whence it later encrypts the lot in one fell swoop.  I suspect this may be a breeding ground for 'bugs' (unheard of up to now in about 15 years of usage).  I will keep trying,

Many thanks for your kind help to everyone - Austin.

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:05:09 -0800 (PST), Austin Obyrne
<austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> declaimed the following:


>LOOP
>  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
>
	What is the definition of "NextChar", since I don't see it changing
inside this loop...
 
-- 
	Wulfraed                 Dennis Lee Bieber         AF6VN
    wlfraed@ix.netcom.com    HTTP://wlfraed.home.netcom.com/

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 4:53:48 PM UTC, Dennis Lee Bieber wrote:
> On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:05:09 -0800 (PST), Austin Obyrne
> <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> declaimed the following:
> 
> 
> >LOOP
> >  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
> >
> 	What is the definition of "NextChar", since I don't see it changing
> inside this loop...
>  
> -- 
> 	Wulfraed                 Dennis Lee Bieber         AF6VN
>     wlfraed@ix.netcom.com    HTTP://wlfraed.home.netcom.com/

This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in question,

  Total := Total+1;
  Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
  Image(Total):= NextChar;
 
'NextChar' is the variable name given to each character being read in from the keyboard.

This program is giving so much trouble that I don't think it is worth continuing
any further with it as an *interactive email tool - alternatively, an email message that is prepared in an editor is just as convenient and is far more robust for reading in and encrypting just as I would with say any batch file.

*I have made an experimental change to an algorithm that worked very well before the change but all this has inexplicably come along with the change.

I have never felt comfortable with this interactive process even when it worked 
well and will stop using it altogether now - it isn't cost effective to persevere with it any further especially when it is suspect.  An encrypted message travels as an attachment to an unsecured covering email(for the present)
- there is no advantage in encrypting it in interactive mode compared with preparing it in an editor like say 'Notepad' - all my instincts say I am doing something wrong.

Sorry for taking so long in coming back and thanks for your help - Austin.

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Saturday, November 29, 2014 4:53:48 PM UTC, Dennis Lee Bieber wrote:
>> On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:05:09 -0800 (PST), Austin Obyrne
>> <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> declaimed the following:
>> 
>> 
>> >LOOP
>> >  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
>> >
>> 	What is the definition of "NextChar", since I don't see it changing
>> inside this loop...
>>  
>
> This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in
> question,
>
>   Total := Total+1;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
>   Image(Total):= NextChar;
>  
> 'NextChar' is the variable name given to each character being read
> in from the keyboard.
>

[snip]

> Sorry for taking so long in coming back and thanks for your help - Austin.

Do what I told you to do and write a stripped down standalone test program
around the fragment you posted.

You will then see what Dennis (and myself) are telling you.

I could tell you what the problem is, but I think it's more important for
you to understand how to find this yourself.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:18:33 AM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > On Saturday, November 29, 2014 4:53:48 PM UTC, Dennis Lee Bieber wrote:
> >> On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:05:09 -0800 (PST), Austin Obyrne
> >> <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> declaimed the following:
> >> 
> >> 
> >> >LOOP
> >> >  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
> >> >
> >> 	What is the definition of "NextChar", since I don't see it changing
> >> inside this loop...
> >>  
> >
> > This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in
> > question,
> >
> >   Total := Total+1;
> >   Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
> >   Image(Total):= NextChar;
> >  
> > 'NextChar' is the variable name given to each character being read
> > in from the keyboard.
> >
> 
> [snip]
> 
> > Sorry for taking so long in coming back and thanks for your help - Austin.
> 
> Do what I told you to do and write a stripped down standalone test program
> around the fragment you posted.
> 
> You will then see what Dennis (and myself) are telling you.
> 
> I could tell you what the problem is, but I think it's more important for
> you to understand how to find this yourself.
> 
> Simon.
> 
> -- 
> Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
> Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Hi Simon - herewith the program sourcecode of the procedure in question - I would like to know for future - my main preoccupation is with problem solving but the elegance and efficacy of Ada are important to me also - bear with me -this a an experimental program by me and is not a fine example of programming in Ada. I would appreciate your help - I am going flat out with research work in cryptoland - Ada is a tool to me at the moment until I get more time to 'smell the flowers' of the language proper.

  Time_Ex_1;
  Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count
  Resets := 0;
  Total  := 0;
  NextChar := ' ';    --initialising to pre-empt error message
  Line_Number:= 0;
  LOOP
  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
  Count:= Count+1;               -- change-of-origin count reinitialising
  IF Count REM (Span + Phi +1) = 0 THEN -- Reset signal
     Count:= 1;
     Resets:= Resets +1;
  END IF;
  Total := Total +1;
  Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
  Counter := Counter +1;
  Total := Total +1;
  Image(Counter):= NextChar;
--  R := Character 'POS(NextChar);
--  PlainTextNum(R) := PlainTextNum(R) +1;
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "         ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => NextChar);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                - Current PlainText for encryption");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Phi ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "             - ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Phi, Width => 2);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Count ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Count, Width => 2);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Total ");
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width => 2);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Character'Pos(Nextchar), Width => 11);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "               - Value in ASCII of current plaintext");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
  Compute_Normal;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_1, Width => 4);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_2, Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_3, Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "      - VeeZero - fixed in this cipher");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_1, Width => 4);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_2, Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_3, Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "      - VeeOne - fixed in this cipher.");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Compute_Normal;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  n :=(Character'Pos(NextChar));
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "              - face value 'n' of current plaintext in ASCII");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  n := Number(Character'Pos(NextChar));  -- renumbered by Alice
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "              - rendered value of 'n'in the encryption alphabet");
  Compute_Position_Vector(Number => n);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(1), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(2), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(3), Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  - Position vector ('Pn') for this 'n'. ");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_2(Count), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_11(Count), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_12(Count), Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put
  (Item => "  - Change-of-origin vector to be given to this Pn item");
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
    FOR I IN 1 .. 3 LOOP
      W(I):= Compose_CipherText_Items( Numin => I);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(File => OutData, Item =>  W(I));
    END LOOP;
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(1), Width => 9);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(2), Width => 8);
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(3), Width => 8);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item =>" - Ciphertext for this item of plaintext");
  Q:= W(1)REM 1000000;
  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
--  Q:= W(2)REM 1000000;
--  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
--  Q:= W(3)REM 1000000;
--  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
--  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
--  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => AllTold, Width =>4);
--  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width =>8);
--  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => InToto, Width =>8);
--  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Compares 'AllTold','Total','InToto' integrators'");
  Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
    IF Line_Number REM 12 = 0 THEN
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
    END IF;
--    IF W(2)REM 1000000 = 514681 THEN --repeated number in ciphertext say
--      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put (item => W(2) , Width => 20);
--      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
--    END IF;
  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------");
  END LOOP;
  Ada.Text_IO.Close(File => Outdata);
  Time_Ex_2;  -- time at end

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Sunday, November 30, 2014 12:58:34 PM UTC, Austin Obyrne wrote:
> On Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:18:33 AM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
> > On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Saturday, November 29, 2014 4:53:48 PM UTC, Dennis Lee Bieber wrote:
> > >> On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 07:05:09 -0800 (PST), Austin Obyrne
> > >> <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> declaimed the following:
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> >LOOP
> > >> >  EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
> > >> >
> > >> 	What is the definition of "NextChar", since I don't see it changing
> > >> inside this loop...
> > >>  
> > >
> > > This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in
> > > question,
> > >
> > >   Total := Total+1;
> > >   Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
> > >   Image(Total):= NextChar;
> > >  
> > > 'NextChar' is the variable name given to each character being read
> > > in from the keyboard.
> > >
> > 
> > [snip]
> > 
> > > Sorry for taking so long in coming back and thanks for your help - Austin.
> > 
> > Do what I told you to do and write a stripped down standalone test program
> > around the fragment you posted.
> > 
> > You will then see what Dennis (and myself) are telling you.
> > 
> > I could tell you what the problem is, but I think it's more important for
> > you to understand how to find this yourself.
> > 
> > Simon.
> > 
> > -- 
> > Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
> > Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world
> 
> Hi Simon - herewith the program sourcecode of the procedure in question - I would like to know for future - my main preoccupation is with problem solving but the elegance and efficacy of Ada are important to me also - bear with me -this a an experimental program by me and is not a fine example of programming in Ada. I would appreciate your help - I am going flat out with research work in cryptoland - Ada is a tool to me at the moment until I get more time to 'smell the flowers' of the language proper.
> 
>   Time_Ex_1;
>   Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count
>   Resets := 0;
>   Total  := 0;
>   NextChar := ' ';    --initialising to pre-empt error message
>   Line_Number:= 0;
>   LOOP
>   EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
>   Count:= Count+1;               -- change-of-origin count reinitialising
>   IF Count REM (Span + Phi +1) = 0 THEN -- Reset signal
>      Count:= 1;
>      Resets:= Resets +1;
>   END IF;
>   Total := Total +1;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
>   Counter := Counter +1;
>   Total := Total +1;
>   Image(Counter):= NextChar;
> --  R := Character 'POS(NextChar);
> --  PlainTextNum(R) := PlainTextNum(R) +1;
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "         ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => NextChar);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                - Current PlainText for encryption");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Phi ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "             - ");
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Phi, Width => 2);
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Count ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Count, Width => 2);
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Total ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width => 2);
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Character'Pos(Nextchar), Width => 11);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "               - Value in ASCII of current plaintext");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
>   Compute_Normal;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_1, Width => 4);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_2, Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_3, Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "      - VeeZero - fixed in this cipher");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_1, Width => 4);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_2, Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_3, Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "      - VeeOne - fixed in this cipher.");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Compute_Normal;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   n :=(Character'Pos(NextChar));
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "              - face value 'n' of current plaintext in ASCII");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   n := Number(Character'Pos(NextChar));  -- renumbered by Alice
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "              - rendered value of 'n'in the encryption alphabet");
>   Compute_Position_Vector(Number => n);
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(1), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(2), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(3), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  - Position vector ('Pn') for this 'n'. ");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_2(Count), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_11(Count), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_12(Count), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put
>   (Item => "  - Change-of-origin vector to be given to this Pn item");
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>     FOR I IN 1 .. 3 LOOP
>       W(I):= Compose_CipherText_Items( Numin => I);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(File => OutData, Item =>  W(I));
>     END LOOP;
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(1), Width => 9);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(2), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(3), Width => 8);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item =>" - Ciphertext for this item of plaintext");
>   Q:= W(1)REM 1000000;
>   I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
> --  Q:= W(2)REM 1000000;
> --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
> --  Q:= W(3)REM 1000000;
> --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
> --  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
> --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => AllTold, Width =>4);
> --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width =>8);
> --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => InToto, Width =>8);
> --  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Compares 'AllTold','Total','InToto' integrators'");
>   Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
>   Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>     IF Line_Number REM 12 = 0 THEN
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
>     END IF;
> --    IF W(2)REM 1000000 = 514681 THEN --repeated number in ciphertext say
> --      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put (item => W(2) , Width => 20);
> --      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
> --    END IF;
>   Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------");
>   END LOOP;
>   Ada.Text_IO.Close(File => Outdata);
>   Time_Ex_2;  -- time at end

Their is some experimental debris in there also I'm afraid - apologies for that.

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Stephen Leake]

Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> writes:

>>   Time_Ex_1;
>>   Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count

<snip>

In order to help you understand what you need to change in this post so
we can help, I've attempted to make this compile. Here's a modified
version, with some fixes, and some FIXME: comments:

with Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Obyrne_1
is
   --  FIXME: put all required definitions here, as reported by the
   --  compilation errors: Time_Ex_1, Count, Phi, Resets, Total, n,
   --  Number, NextChar, Line_Number, Sentinel, Span, Counter, Image,
   --  Compose_CipherText_Items, Q, I_Num, Time_Ex_2
   --
   --  While you are doing that, delete any that are not needed to
   --  show the problem.
begin

   Time_Ex_1;
   Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count
   Resets := 0;
   Total  := 0;
   NextChar := ' ';    --initialising to pre-empt error message
   Line_Number:= 0;
   LOOP
      EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
      Count:= Count+1;               -- change-of-origin count reinitialising
      IF Count REM (Span + Phi +1) = 0 THEN -- Reset signal
         Count:= 1;
         Resets:= Resets +1;
      END IF;
      Total := Total +1;
      Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
      Counter := Counter +1;
      Total := Total +1;
      Image(Counter):= NextChar;
      --  FIXME: do _not_ include commented out code, unless it is part of the explanation of the problem

      --  FIXME: most of this output is _not_ essential to show the bug; delete them.
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "         ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => NextChar);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                - Current PlainText for encryption");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Phi ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "             - ");
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Phi, Width => 2);
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Count ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Count, Width => 2);
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Total ");
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width => 2);
      Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Character'Pos(Nextchar), Width => 11);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "               - Value in ASCII of current plaintext");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
      Compute_Normal;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_1, Width => 4);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_2, Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_3, Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "      - VeeZero - fixed in this cipher");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_1, Width => 4);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_2, Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_3, Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "      - VeeOne - fixed in this cipher.");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Compute_Normal;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      n :=(Character'Pos(NextChar));
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "              - face value 'n' of current plaintext in ASCII");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      n := Number(Character'Pos(NextChar));  -- renumbered by Alice
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "              - rendered value of 'n'in the encryption alphabet");
      Compute_Position_Vector(Number => n);
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(1), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(2), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(3), Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  - Position vector ('Pn') for this 'n'. ");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_2(Count), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_11(Count), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_12(Count), Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put
        (Item => "  - Change-of-origin vector to be given to this Pn item");
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      FOR I IN 1 .. 3 LOOP
         W(I):= Compose_CipherText_Items( Numin => I);
         Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(File => OutData, Item =>  W(I));
      END LOOP;
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(1), Width => 9);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(2), Width => 8);
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(3), Width => 8);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item =>" - Ciphertext for this item of plaintext");
      Q:= W(1)REM 1000000;
      I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
      --  Q:= W(2)REM 1000000;
      --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
      --  Q:= W(3)REM 1000000;
      --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
      --  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => AllTold, Width =>4);
      --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width =>8);
      --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => InToto, Width =>8);
      --  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Compares 'AllTold','Total','InToto' integrators'");
      Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
      Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
      IF Line_Number REM 12 = 0 THEN
         Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
         Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
         Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
         Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
      END IF;
      Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------");
   END LOOP;
   Ada.Text_IO.Close(File => Outdata);
   Time_Ex_2;  -- time at end
end Obyrne_1;

This gives the following compilation errors:

obyrne_1.adb:6:04: "Time_Ex_1" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:7:04: "Count" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:7:14: "Phi" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:8:04: "Resets" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:9:04: "Total" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:10:04: "NextChar" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:11:04: "Line_Number" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:13:28: "Sentinel" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:15:21: "Span" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:20:07: "Ada" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:20:07: missing "with Ada.Text_IO;"
obyrne_1.adb:21:18: "Counter" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:23:07: "Image" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:51:07: "Compute_Normal" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:75:07: "n" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:80:12: "Number" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:84:07: "Compute_Position_Vector" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:98:10: "W" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:98:17: "Compose_CipherText_Items" is undefined
obyrne_1.adb:105:07: "Q" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:106:19: "I_Num" is undefined (more references follow)
obyrne_1.adb:131:04: "Time_Ex_2" is undefined

Until these errors are fixed, we can't help you, because we can't tell
where the problem is.

See the FIXME: comments for more detailed advice on how to change the
code.

Your first post said there was an "if" statement that did not work, so
the code you present should contain just that "if" statment, together
with the required declarations, and some Text_IO.Put_lines to
demonstrate the problem.

In addition, please state clearly what the problem is. The only thing
you've said so far is "it doesn't work". That usually means "it doesn't
do what I want it to do". Since we don't know what you want it to do, we
can't help.

You could say something like:

    I expect line 23 to output "23", but it outputs "42".

-- 
-- Stephe

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Monday, December 1, 2014 10:20:52 PM UTC, Stephen Leake wrote:
> Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> writes:
> 
> >>   Time_Ex_1;
> >>   Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count
> 
> <snip>
> 
> In order to help you understand what you need to change in this post so
> we can help, I've attempted to make this compile. Here's a modified
> version, with some fixes, and some FIXME: comments:
> 
> with Ada.Text_IO;
> procedure Obyrne_1
> is
>    --  FIXME: put all required definitions here, as reported by the
>    --  compilation errors: Time_Ex_1, Count, Phi, Resets, Total, n,
>    --  Number, NextChar, Line_Number, Sentinel, Span, Counter, Image,
>    --  Compose_CipherText_Items, Q, I_Num, Time_Ex_2
>    --
>    --  While you are doing that, delete any that are not needed to
>    --  show the problem.
> begin
> 
>    Time_Ex_1;
>    Count  := Phi;    --initialising change-of-origin Count
>    Resets := 0;
>    Total  := 0;
>    NextChar := ' ';    --initialising to pre-empt error message
>    Line_Number:= 0;
>    LOOP
>       EXIT WHEN NextChar = Sentinel;
>       Count:= Count+1;               -- change-of-origin count reinitialising
>       IF Count REM (Span + Phi +1) = 0 THEN -- Reset signal
>          Count:= 1;
>          Resets:= Resets +1;
>       END IF;
>       Total := Total +1;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
>       Counter := Counter +1;
>       Total := Total +1;
>       Image(Counter):= NextChar;
>       --  FIXME: do _not_ include commented out code, unless it is part of the explanation of the problem
> 
>       --  FIXME: most of this output is _not_ essential to show the bug; delete them.
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "         ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => NextChar);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                - Current PlainText for encryption");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Phi ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "             - ");
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Phi, Width => 2);
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Count ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Count, Width => 2);
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "        ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " Total ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "           - ");
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width => 2);
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Character'Pos(Nextchar), Width => 11);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "               - Value in ASCII of current plaintext");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_line;
>       Compute_Normal;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_1, Width => 4);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_2, Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => S_3, Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "      - VeeZero - fixed in this cipher");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_1, Width => 4);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_2, Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => T_3, Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "      - VeeOne - fixed in this cipher.");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Compute_Normal;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(1), Width => 4);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(2), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Normal(3), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Normal vector -  fixed in this cipher");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       n :=(Character'Pos(NextChar));
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "              - face value 'n' of current plaintext in ASCII");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       n := Number(Character'Pos(NextChar));  -- renumbered by Alice
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => n, Width =>12);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "              - rendered value of 'n'in the encryption alphabet");
>       Compute_Position_Vector(Number => n);
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(1), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(2), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Pn(3), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  - Position vector ('Pn') for this 'n'. ");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_2(Count), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_11(Count), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Hash_12(Count), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put
>         (Item => "  - Change-of-origin vector to be given to this Pn item");
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       FOR I IN 1 .. 3 LOOP
>          W(I):= Compose_CipherText_Items( Numin => I);
>          Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(File => OutData, Item =>  W(I));
>       END LOOP;
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(1), Width => 9);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(2), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put( Item =>  W(3), Width => 8);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item =>" - Ciphertext for this item of plaintext");
>       Q:= W(1)REM 1000000;
>       I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
>       --  Q:= W(2)REM 1000000;
>       --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
>       --  Q:= W(3)REM 1000000;
>       --  I_Num(Q) := I_Num(Q)+1;
>       --  Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => AllTold, Width =>4);
>       --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Total, Width =>8);
>       --  Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => InToto, Width =>8);
>       --  Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "      - Compares 'AllTold','Total','InToto' integrators'");
>       Line_Number:= Line_Number+1;
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                          - Character number ");
>       Ada.Integer_Text_IO.Put(Item => Line_Number, Width => 1);
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>       IF Line_Number REM 12 = 0 THEN
>          Ada.Text_IO.New_Line(1);
>          Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "                       ");
>          Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => " # - press any key/return to continue > ");
>          Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => View);
>       END IF;
>       Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
>       Ada.Text_IO.Put(Item => "  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------");
>    END LOOP;
>    Ada.Text_IO.Close(File => Outdata);
>    Time_Ex_2;  -- time at end
> end Obyrne_1;
> 
> This gives the following compilation errors:
> 
> obyrne_1.adb:6:04: "Time_Ex_1" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:7:04: "Count" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:7:14: "Phi" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:8:04: "Resets" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:9:04: "Total" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:10:04: "NextChar" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:11:04: "Line_Number" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:13:28: "Sentinel" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:15:21: "Span" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:20:07: "Ada" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:20:07: missing "with Ada.Text_IO;"
> obyrne_1.adb:21:18: "Counter" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:23:07: "Image" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:51:07: "Compute_Normal" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:75:07: "n" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:80:12: "Number" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:84:07: "Compute_Position_Vector" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:98:10: "W" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:98:17: "Compose_CipherText_Items" is undefined
> obyrne_1.adb:105:07: "Q" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:106:19: "I_Num" is undefined (more references follow)
> obyrne_1.adb:131:04: "Time_Ex_2" is undefined
> 
> Until these errors are fixed, we can't help you, because we can't tell
> where the problem is.
> 
> See the FIXME: comments for more detailed advice on how to change the
> code.
> 
> Your first post said there was an "if" statement that did not work, so
> the code you present should contain just that "if" statment, together
> with the required declarations, and some Text_IO.Put_lines to
> demonstrate the problem.
> 
> In addition, please state clearly what the problem is. The only thing
> you've said so far is "it doesn't work". That usually means "it doesn't
> do what I want it to do". Since we don't know what you want it to do, we
> can't help.
> 
> You could say something like:
> 
>     I expect line 23 to output "23", but it outputs "42".
> 
> -- 
> -- Stephe

Hi Stephe,

I am overwhelmed with the volume of help from everybody. With hindsight I should have taken more care in presenting my problem. Now that I know the drill I will be more careful in the future.  Part of my problem is in not learning Ada properly. I go for problem solving by alternative methods instead of fine tuning the method in hand.

In passing, I note that professor M.B. Feldman is posting here also today.  I cannot overstate the email help this man gave me in getting stared with Ada-95 - thanks again Professor - your book was and is excellent (if you can get a used copy).

adacrypt.

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:18:33 AM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
>> 
>> Do what I told you to do and write a stripped down standalone test program
>> around the fragment you posted.
>> 
>> You will then see what Dennis (and myself) are telling you.
>> 
>> I could tell you what the problem is, but I think it's more important for
>> you to understand how to find this yourself.
>> 
>
> Hi Simon - herewith the program sourcecode of the procedure in
> question - I would like to know for future - my main preoccupation is
> with problem solving but the elegance and efficacy of Ada are
> important to me also - bear with me -this a an experimental program by
> me and is not a fine example of programming in Ada. I would appreciate
> your help - I am going flat out with research work in cryptoland - Ada
> is a tool to me at the moment until I get more time to 'smell the
> flowers' of the language proper.
>

Hello Austin,

I said a standalone, compilable, test version.

The idea is that you post a small standalone example of your code which
can be directly copied from the posting into a file and then compiled
on a person's system.

You also need to reduce the code to the minimum necessary to demonstrate
the problem. BTW, it is during this reduction process that the reason for
the problem has a habit of becoming clear. :-)

Along with posting the code, you also state the _specific_ problem you
are having with this code (doesn't exit a loop, doesn't add up correctly,
etc) along with the output you are seeing.

Only at this point do we have enough information to try and help you.

For example, in the code you have posted, there are no variable definitions,
there are functions (such as Time_Ex_1) which are used and not defined and
you have not stated what the specific problem is with this version of the
code.

BTW, I'm not being difficult here, I'm trying to get you to help yourself
by explaining what is needed before you can be given some suggestions.

The process you need to go through here is the exact same process we all
go through when trying to isolate some specific problem.

To everyone else: Austin doesn't seem to understand what I am asking him
to do. Could my comments be improved in some way ?

Thanks,

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Sunday, November 30, 2014 1:46:58 PM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:18:33 AM UTC, Simon Clubley wrote:
> >> 
> >> Do what I told you to do and write a stripped down standalone test program
> >> around the fragment you posted.
> >> 
> >> You will then see what Dennis (and myself) are telling you.
> >> 
> >> I could tell you what the problem is, but I think it's more important for
> >> you to understand how to find this yourself.
> >> 
> >
> > Hi Simon - herewith the program sourcecode of the procedure in
> > question - I would like to know for future - my main preoccupation is
> > with problem solving but the elegance and efficacy of Ada are
> > important to me also - bear with me -this a an experimental program by
> > me and is not a fine example of programming in Ada. I would appreciate
> > your help - I am going flat out with research work in cryptoland - Ada
> > is a tool to me at the moment until I get more time to 'smell the
> > flowers' of the language proper.
> >
> 
> Hello Austin,
> 
> I said a standalone, compilable, test version.
> 
> The idea is that you post a small standalone example of your code which
> can be directly copied from the posting into a file and then compiled
> on a person's system.
> 
> You also need to reduce the code to the minimum necessary to demonstrate
> the problem. BTW, it is during this reduction process that the reason for
> the problem has a habit of becoming clear. :-)
> 
> Along with posting the code, you also state the _specific_ problem you
> are having with this code (doesn't exit a loop, doesn't add up correctly,
> etc) along with the output you are seeing.
> 
> Only at this point do we have enough information to try and help you.
> 
> For example, in the code you have posted, there are no variable definitions,
> there are functions (such as Time_Ex_1) which are used and not defined and
> you have not stated what the specific problem is with this version of the
> code.
> 
> BTW, I'm not being difficult here, I'm trying to get you to help yourself
> by explaining what is needed before you can be given some suggestions.
> 
> The process you need to go through here is the exact same process we all
> go through when trying to isolate some specific problem.
> 
> To everyone else: Austin doesn't seem to understand what I am asking him
> to do. Could my comments be improved in some way ?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Simon.
> 
> -- 
> Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
> Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Thanks a million again.

This is the only program in several hundred where this method of stalling the program does not work and it is only when I used this type of loop i.e. being terminated by a 'sentinel' character that it happens.  It is not a problem in the current cipher now but I have taken on board your advice for future - I do understand what I must do sometime soon in the future and I may have to come back to you again - you are saying I should create some innocuous program and try stalling it by the same means and the reason why it won't work should surface - I hadn't thought of that.  I will be doing that asap.

Thanks for your much appreciated help - am I right in my intentions?.

I have scrapped the program in hand but I need to know for future in other programs. - I think I've got you right ! - Austin

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2014-11-30, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> This is the only program in several hundred where this method of
> stalling the program does not work and it is only when I used this
> type of loop i.e. being terminated by a 'sentinel' character that it
> happens.  It is not a problem in the current cipher now but I have
> taken on board your advice for future - I do understand what I must do
> sometime soon in the future and I may have to come back to you again -
> you are saying I should create some innocuous program and try stalling
> it by the same means and the reason why it won't work should surface -
> I hadn't thought of that.  I will be doing that asap.
>
> Thanks for your much appreciated help - am I right in my intentions?.
>

In your test program, you need to use a copy of the _actual_ small section
of the code which is giving you trouble instead of re-creating it from the
ground up as the purpose is to explore what the problem code is _actually_
doing instead of what you _think_ it is doing.

You also need to make sure there are no variables defined which are not
needed by the faulty section of code and then you look at what variables
are actually needed by the faulty code as it currently stands to see if
that also gives you any clues.

Once you have duplicated the problem in your small test program, you can
then start reducing the code further until the problem either becomes
clear to you or it becomes something which you can post for further help.

If you have a debugger to hand (such as gdb) you can also step through
the faulty code using the debugger and examining variables and program
flow as the code executes.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Shark8]

On 30-Nov-14 07:49, Austin Obyrne wrote:
> Thanks for your much appreciated help - am I right in my intentions?.

That's really hard to say; any particular construct/usage might be 
doable but that doesn't mean that it's even good. -- In the case of 
looping there's perfectly rational cases for a sentinel-value (namely 
unconstrained input, user input in particular), but that doesn't mean 
that's the best way to do it: Streams, for example, write the bounds and 
then the data for items like arrays (which works because when you write 
those items out the constraints are known).

So, we really cannot tell w/o a small compilable example, and 
explanation of your intent, like Simon said.

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Denis McMahon]

On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 18:16:35 -0800, Austin Obyrne wrote:

> This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in
> question,
> 
>   Total := Total+1; Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
>   Image(Total):= NextChar;

Yes, but when you post that in isolation, we have no idea where to place 
it in the code you originally posted.

When you say "at the very start" do you mean before the LOOP is declared, 
or do you mean inside the loop after the exit condition is declared, or 
do you mean inside the loop before the exit condition is declared, or 
something else?

We're guessing.

What's Image? Is it relevant to reproducing the problem? What about all 
the IO? How much of that is your troubleshooting, and how much is 
actually relevant to the problem?

Please help us to help you!

-- 
Denis McMahon, denismfmcmahon@gmail.com

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Austin Obyrne]

On Sunday, November 30, 2014 11:56:46 AM UTC, Denis McMahon wrote:
> On Sat, 29 Nov 2014 18:16:35 -0800, Austin Obyrne wrote:
> 
> > This is the relevant source code at the very start of the program in
> > question,
> > 
> >   Total := Total+1; Ada.Text_IO.Get(Item => NextChar);
> >   Image(Total):= NextChar;
> 
> Yes, but when you post that in isolation, we have no idea where to place 
> it in the code you originally posted.
> 
> When you say "at the very start" do you mean before the LOOP is declared, 
> or do you mean inside the loop after the exit condition is declared, or 
> do you mean inside the loop before the exit condition is declared, or 
> something else?
> 
> We're guessing.
> 
> What's Image? Is it relevant to reproducing the problem? What about all 
> the IO? How much of that is your troubleshooting, and how much is 
> actually relevant to the problem?
> 
> Please help us to help you!
> 
> -- 
> Denis McMahon, denismfmcmahon@gmail.com

At the risk of sounding ungrateful I have decided that this whole idea of interactive encryption may be causing mayhem within the computer register - true or false it is not worth continuing - it is much better I realise now to simply prepare an email program in an editor and read it in for encryption rather than key it in from the keyboard - that was not going to any big deal anyway and was obviouslt shaky.

I rewrote the whole program again this morning and it behaved just the same when I tested it.

Many thanks for your kind help again. - Austin

Re: Help with an errant 'IF' statement please.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2014-11-29, Austin Obyrne <austin.obyrne@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Maybe there is some basic syntax that I am contravening in this type of Loop.
>
> Your usual help would be greatly appreciated.
>

The problem appears to be so obvious you caused me to do a text search
for "Total" while I was composing this reply in emacs in case I was
missing something and posted something dumb. :-)

Question for you: where exactly is Total incremented within your loop ?

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world