Programming Challenge 10.17 - Morse Code Converter

Example Files: mAlpha.txt
                          mMorse.txt

/* Morse Code Converter - Morse code is a code where each letter of the
    English alphabet, each digit, and various punctuation characters are
    represented by a series of dots and dashes. This program asks the user
    to enter a string, and then converts that string to Morse code. */

#include "Utility.h"

/* Asks the user if he or she wants to repeat the process,
   returns the decision */
char tryAgain();

/* Reads in a file containing letters a-z, the numbers 0-9, and a set
    of punctuation characters,
    stores the contents in a char vector */
int getAlpha(vector<char> &);

/* Reads in a file containing the Morse code equivalents of letters
    a-z, the numbers 0-9, and a set of punctuation characters,
    stores the contents in a string vector */
int getMorse(vector<string> &);

/* Converts a sentence from English to Morse Code,
    returns the sentence */
string toMorse(const string, const vector<char>, const vector<string>);

int main()
{
    vector<char>   alpha;
    vector<string> morse;

    int     fOpenAlpha = 0,
             fOpenMorse = 0;
    char   again = ' ';
    string english,
             morseCode;

    cout << "\n\tMORSE CODE TRANSLATOR\n";

    fOpenAlpha = getAlpha(alpha);
    fOpenMorse = getMorse(morse);

    if (fOpenAlpha != -1 && fOpenMorse != -1)
    {
        do
        {
            cout << "\n\tEnter a sentence in English, and I will translate "
                      "it to Morse code for you:\n\t";
            getline(cin, english);

            cout << "\n\tHere is your sentence in Morse code:\n\n"
                  << (morseCode = toMorse(english, alpha, morse)) << "\n";  

            again = tryAgain();

            if (again == 'N')
            {
                cout << "\n\tHave a nice day!\n\n";
            }

        } while (again != 'N');
    }

   pauseSystem();
   return 0;
}

/* **********************************************************
   Definition: tryAgain

    This function asks the user if he or she wishes to try
    again. This decision is returned.
   ********************************************************** */

char tryAgain()
{
    char again = ' ';

    cout << "\n\n\tDo you wish to try this again? ";
    cin >> again;
    cin.ignore();

    /* Input validation */
    while (toupper(again) != 'Y' && toupper(again) != 'N')
    {
        cout << "\n\tDo you wish to try this again? ";
        cin >> again;
        cin.ignore();
    }

    return toupper(again);
}

/* **********************************************************
   Definition: getAlpha

    This function reads in a file called 'mAlpha.txt', which
    contains the letters a-z, numbers 1 through 9, and a set
    of punctuation characters. The contents of this file is
    stored in a string vector. If the file cannot be openend,
    the user is informed by a message, and the function will
    exit with code -1.
   ********************************************************** */

int getAlpha(vector<char> &alpha)
{
    ifstream alphabet;
    char        mAlpha;

    alphabet.open("mAlpha.txt");

    if (alphabet && !alphabet.eof())
    {
        while (alphabet >> mAlpha)
        {
            alpha.push_back(mAlpha);
        }
    }
    else
    {
        cout << "\n\tFile open error: The file 'mAlpha.txt' could not be\n"
              << "\topened or processed. Make sure that the filename is\n"
              << "\tcorrect and the file is not damaged or has been moved\n"
              << "\tfrom the program folder.\n\n"
              << "\tPress enter to exit this program ...";

        return -1;
    }

    alphabet.close();

    return 0;
}

/* **********************************************************
   Definition: getMorse

    This function reads in a file called 'mMorse.txt', which
    contains the Morse code equivalents of the letters a-z,
    numbers 1 through 9, and a set of punctuation characters.
    The contents of this file is stored in a string vector.
    If the file cannot be openend, the user is informed by a
    message, and the function will exit with code -1.
   ********************************************************** */

int getMorse(vector<string> &morse)
{
    ifstream morseAlpha;
    string   mMorse;

    morseAlpha.open("mMorse.txt");

    if (morseAlpha && !morseAlpha.eof())
    {
        while (getline(morseAlpha, mMorse))
        {
            morse.push_back(mMorse);
        }
    }
    else
    {
        cout << "\n\tFile open error: The file 'mMorse.txt' could not be\n"
              << "\topened or processed. Make sure that the filename is\n"
              << "\tcorrect and the file is not damaged or has been moved\n"
              << "\tfrom the program folder.\n\n"
              << "\tPress enter to exit this program ...";

        return -1;
    }

    morseAlpha.close();

    return 0;
}

/* **********************************************************
   Definition: toMorse

    This function accepts a string object and two vectors as
    arguments. It translates a sentence into Morse code. The
    string object containing the translation is returned.
   ********************************************************** */

string toMorse(const string input, const vector<char> alpha,
                    const vector<string> morse)
{
    unsigned int startScan = 0,
                     index = 0;
    string         morseCode;

    for (startScan = index; startScan < input.length(); startScan++)
    {
        for (index = 0; index < morse.size(); index++)
        {
            if (tolower(input.at(startScan)) == alpha.at(index))
            {
                morseCode.append(morse.at(index) + " ");
            }
        }

        if (isspace(input.at(startScan)))
        {
            morseCode.insert(morseCode.length(), " ");
        }
    }

    return morseCode;
}

Example Output: