How to compile the extended character in C++ using GCC?

Question

The following code fails to compile using GCC:

int main()
{
    for(int j=0; j<80; j++) //for every column,
    { //ch is ‘x’ if column is
        char ch = (j%8) ? ‘ ‘ : ‘x’; //multiple of 8, and
        cout << ch; //‘ ‘ (space) otherwise
    }
    return 0;
}

It should print: x x x x x x x x x

But I get the following error:

error: extended character ‘ is not valid in an identifier

Answer 1

In this line:

char ch = (j%8) ? ‘ ‘ : ‘x’;

You are using the wrong single-quote.
The proper one is ', i.e.:

//----------------V-V---V-V-
char ch = (j%8) ? ' ' : 'x';

This is specified in the Character literal documentation.