left.cpp
#include <iostream>
const int ArSize = 80;
char *left(const char *str, int n = 1);
int main()
{
using namespace std;
char sample[ArSize];
cout << "Enter a string:\n";
cin.get(sample, ArSize);
char *ps = left(sample, 4);
cout << ps << endl;
delete[] ps;
ps = left(sample);
cout << ps << endl;
delete[] ps;
}
char *left(const char *str, int n)
{
if (n < 0)
n = 0;
char *p = new char[n + 1];
int i;
for (i = 0; i < n && str[i]; i++)
p[i] = str[i];
while (i <= n)
p[i++] = '\0';
return p;
}