algorithm

    
//don't know the precise character codes by heart... or the difference between a and A. You'll need to edit the code if you want it to handle capital and small letters both correctly since afaik they're not subsequent...

int alphabet[NUM_CHARCTERS_IN_ALPHABET];

for(unsigned i = 0; i < strlen(str); i++)
 {
 alphabet[str[i] - 'a']++;
 }

char buf[25];

for(unsigned i = 0; i < NUM_CHARCTERS_IN_ALPHABET; i++)
 {
 if(alphabet[i])
   {
   sprintf(buf, "  appears %i times\0", alphabet[i]);
   buf[0] = i + 'a';
   cout << buf << endl;
   }
 }