Learning should always be free...

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
	int i;
	int a;
	int p;
	
	i=4;
	while (( i <=4 ) && ( i > 0 ))
	{
		int j;
		j = 1;
		while ( j <= i )
		{
			cout << ".";
			j = j +1;
		}
		p=1;
		while ( p <= 7)
		{
			int q;
			q=1;
			while ( q <= p)
			{
				cout << "*";
				q=q+1;
			}
			cout << endl;
			p=p+2;	
		}
		
		i = i -1;
	}
	cout << "*" << endl;
	a=1;
	while (( a <= 4 ) && ( a > 0 ))
	{
		int b;
		b = 1;
		while ( b <= a )
		{
			cout << ".";
			b = b + 1;
		}
	cout << "*";
	cout << endl;	
	a=a+1;		
	}	
	return 0;
}

Above is my code in order to create the pattern as below:

or a better view of my code:

http://codepad.org/PIkrSKms

Please ignore the code starting from line 36 onwards. May I know that how can I "escape" the while loop in line 25 so that it will proceed to i=i-1?

Thanks for your guides!

If you are looking to break out of while loop or any kind of loop before the condition you can use either break or continue statement. I have talked about it in my video on looping.

To generate the given pattern, one nested loop will be enough.

If you are looking to paste a code like how I have changed yours above you can click on source in the editor and enclose your code like below:

<pre>
<code class="cpp">

your code here...

....................

</code>
</pre>

You can now actually just use the code function in toolbar to post a code here.

By the way, did it work? Your code?

#include 
using namespace std;

int main()
{
	int i;
	int a;
	int p;
	
	i=4;
	while (( i <=4 ) && ( i > 0 ))
	{
		int j;
		j = 1;
		while ( j <= i )
		{
			cout << ".";
			j = j +1;
		}
		p=1;
		while ( p <= 7)
		{
			int q;
			q=1;
			while ( q <= p)
			{
				cout << "*";
				q=q+1;
			}
			cout << endl;
			p=p+2;	
		}
		
		i = i -1;
	}
	cout << "*" << endl;
	a=1;
	while (( a <= 4 ) && ( a > 0 ))
	{
		int b;
		b = 1;
		while ( b <= a )
		{
			cout << ".";
			b = b + 1;
		}
	cout << "*";
	cout << endl;	
	a=a+1;		
	}	
	return 0;
}

Just meant to say that there was a bug in pasting the code here. But I have fixed it. I see you have already been abble to put the code properly in here. Thats exactly what I meant. Sorry about about the confusion. Did you got the answer to your programming question?

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply, I think I have solved the problem above, Thanks suzzett!