The Psychology of Quality and More

C Style: Standards and Guidelines (contents)

CHAPTER 6 : Layout

PART 3 : LAYOUT

CHAPTER 6 : Code Layout
6.1 Basic principles of code layout
6.2 Use of Spaces
6.3 Use of blank lines
6.4 Use vertical alignment
6.5 Indentation level
6.6 Line wrapping
6.7 Braces
6.8 Use of parentheses
6.9 Nested single statement
6.10 Empty statements
6.11 'else..if'
6.12 'switch' statements
6.13 'do..while'
6.14 Labels
6.15 Data declarations
6.16 Function declaration
6.17 Preprocessor commands
6.18 Summary

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6.12  'switch' statements

There are a few variations on the layout for a switch statement, beyond the brace style discussed above:

switch ( WidgetStyle )
{
    case WS_GOTHIC:     ChangeCutter( R_GOTHIC );
                        break;
    case WS_ROMAN:      ChangeCutter( R_ROMAN );
                        break;
    default:            ChangeCutter( R_MODERN );
                        break;
}

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This 'toothbrush' style tends to tramp rapidly across to the right in the indenting of both the case and the code for each case starting on the same line as the case (particularly if the cases are long). These can be addressed with a 'comb' layout:

switch ( WidgetStyle )
{
case WS_GOTHIC:
    ChangeCutter( R_GOTHIC );
    break;

case WS_ROMAN:
    ChangeCutter( R_ROMAN );
    break;

default:
    ChangeCutter( R_MODERN );
    break;
}

Each case is now more in the style of an if statement, with the code for each case indented on the line following the decision. Starting the case in the same column as the switch is like matching an else with an if. It also saves horizontal space.

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