Thread: sizeof(Header) giving wrong result

  1. #1
    Registered User
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    Red face sizeof(Header) giving wrong result

    I have defined a struct like given but sizeof function gives one more than the actual size that is 13 why??
    Can You plz help me.
    Code:
    typedef struct {
            char type[3];
            char code[3];
            unsigned short int width;
            unsigned short int height;
            char flags;
            char bgColorI;
            char pARatio;
    }   HEADER;                                                   // size is 13
    
    int main(int argc,char **argv)
    {
             printf("%u", sizeof(HEADER));   // it gives 14 why?? thats is my question
    }

  2. #2
    Ex scientia vera
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    Because your system pads it so it's a multiple of 2 in this case.

    However, if you use the packed attribute, it gives the correct size.

    Code:
    typedef struct {
            char type[3];
            char code[3];
            unsigned short int width;
            unsigned short int height;
            char flags;
            char bgColorI;
            char pARatio;
    } __attribute__((packed)) HEADER;                                                   // size is 13
    
    int main(int argc,char **argv)
    {
             printf("%u", sizeof(HEADER));   // it gives 14 why?? thats is my question
    }

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
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    Thanx it worked if You don mind can u help me a bit more
    Code:
    typedef struct {
            char type[3];
            char code[3];
            unsigned short int width;
            unsigned short int height;
            char flags;
            char bgColorI;
            char pARatio;
    } __attribute__((packed)) HEADER;                                                 
    
    int main(int argc,char **argv)
    {
            HEADER header;
             printf("%u", sizeof(HEADER));
     
             //here one block of HEADER type is accessed from a file viz. fread(&header,13,1,fptr);
       
             printf("%d",header.flags); //this gives -10 can you tell me the bitwise values of this 8 bits
    }
    Last edited by kapil1089thekin; 05-05-2008 at 07:36 AM. Reason: came with a new problem

  4. #4
    Ex scientia vera
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by kapil1089thekin View Post
    Thanx it worked if You don mind can u help me a bit more
    Code:
    typedef struct {
            char type[3];
            char code[3];
            unsigned short int width;
            unsigned short int height;
            char flags;
            char bgColorI;
            char pARatio;
    } __attribute__((packed)) HEADER;                                                 
    
    int main(int argc,char **argv)
    {
            HEADER header;
             printf("%u", sizeof(HEADER));
     
             //here one block of HEADER type is accessed from a file viz. fread(&header,13,1,fptr);
       
             printf("%d",header.flags); //this gives -10 can you tell me the bitwise values of this 8 bits
    }
    1111 0110

    Try googling for the two's complement.

  5. #5
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kapil1089thekin View Post
    I have defined a struct like given but sizeof function gives one more than the actual size that is 13 why??
    If you put a bunch of wooden beams together to create a house, do you expect the volume of the house to be equal to the volume of the wooden beams?

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