Gah! I've coded for about a week when I realize that on the project where I work, strncpy is forbidden. I must use snprintf instead. But I don't really understand how.
For example:
strncpy(dest,10,src);
snprintf(dest,sizeof(dest),"%s",src);
This copies the entire "src", how do I limit it to 10 characters?
%10s.
Nope. Doesn't work.
You're right; I'm thinking minimum instead of maximum. snprintf takes a maximum as the second argument -- so presumably you can use 10 instead of sizeof(dest). (Why you know 10 is right instead of sizeof(dest) I don't know, but on your own head be it.)
I can't do that either, the whole point of using snprintf is to write sizeof(dest) as the second argument, to be absolutely sure that I don't write beyond the limit of dest.
10 is arbitrary, the point is "how to copy part of src", where 10 controls how much of the src I want in dest.
I don't think you realize how inconsistent you're being. Either you want to write *x* characters, or you want to write as many characters as dest holds. Pick one.
(I suppose it's possible you want to write *x* characters unless that's too many: in that case use min(x,sizeof(dest)).)
Why is strncpy() forbidden? Are you sure that it is not strcpy() that is forbidden?I've coded for about a week when I realize that on the project where I work, strncpy is forbidden. I must use snprintf instead.
Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart WayOriginally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
How about snprintf(dest, sizeof(dest) < 10 ? sizeof(dest) : 10, "%s", src); ?
I want to write x characters. More specifically, I have a very long string *from which* I want to write a shorter string, beeing x characters long, into a destination that normally can hold at least x characters.
strncpy (yes, WITH "n") is explicitly forbidden. I have no saying in that.
Maybe, I'll ask my superior if that's ok.
Isn't this possible to do with the %s format string though?
Then throw away sizeof(dest) and use 10, if that's the number of characters you want to write.
If the problem is that you are getting the start of src that you don't want, then start copying from src[location].
Why not just write your own strncpy()? That should effectively make it fair game, right? Bloody teachers and their damn mind games.
In this case, I'm not sure it's a teacher, but rather some sort of company policy. But if you really want to replace strncpy() with a better solution, why not write your OWN function, rather than using the MUCH more expensive snprintf(). snprintf() is probably about 6-10x slower than a simple strncpy(), because it really does complicated stuff to copy the string.
strncpy is indeed not very good, because it will not put a zero at the end of the string, which is bad stuff if the string JUST fits. snprintf() at least does that.
But really "safestrncpy" should be the right solution. It should only be about 3-4 lines of actual code (not counting lines with braces etc).
--
Mats
Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
Ah yes, corporate whorism. But yeah, that is why I too think writing your own function should suffice. snprintf() is just a buffer safe version of sprintf(). Which has a lot of overhead when one is just wanting to copy over a string.
