Trouble with error checking on input from user.

**NuNn** · 01-23-2009

Hello,

I am trying to parse a users input correctly and for the most part I have done so. However, the only issue which still remains is that when a user enters an input of "1.9 3.4 3.h", the '3.h' is automatically converted to 3.0 which I don't want. I would like to prompt the user to let them know that the input was invalid. Here is my code for the error check so far:

Code:

	
		while(1) {
			/*Prompt user for input and process the information*/
			printf("Enter variables for quadratic equation (Enter 'q' or 'quit' to exit):  ");
			fgets(line, 30, stdin);
		
			if(strncmp(line, "quit", 4) == 0 || strncmp(line, "q", 1) == 0) 
				return 0;
			else dataScanned = sscanf(line, "%lf %lf %lf", &a, &b, &c);
		
			/*The data read in was invalid*/
			if(dataScanned != 3) 
				printf("Invalid Input: Format Is <double> <double> <double>\n\n");		
						
			/*Send the data off to qsolver for processing*/
			else if(dataScanned == 3) {
				qret = qsolver(a, b, c, &x1, &x2);
				printf("Error Value:  %d\n", qret);		
				printf("X1 = %f   X2 = %f\n\n", x1, x2);
			}
		}

**Salem** · 01-23-2009

> dataScanned = sscanf(line, "%lf %lf %lf", &a, &b, &c);
Try

Code:

int pos;
dataScanned = sscanf(line, "%lf %lf %lf%n", &a, &b, &c, &pos);

Then look at line[pos] to work out whether it was a valid end to your float, or just trailing garbage.

**NuNn** · 01-23-2009

I tried what you suggested by when I try to see what 'pos' equals I'm getting nothing from the input

**vart** · 01-23-2009

Originally Posted by NuNn

I tried what you suggested by when I try to see what 'pos' equals I'm getting nothing from the input

Show your code

**NuNn** · 01-23-2009

I added a printf after the line to see what value 'pos' was assigned.

Code:

		
			if(strncmp(line, "quit", 4) == 0 || strncmp(line, "q", 1) == 0) 
				return 0;
			else dataScanned = sscanf(line, "%lf %lf %lf%n", &a, &b, &c, &pos);
                        printf("pos = %c\n", pos);

**brewbuck** · 01-23-2009

Originally Posted by NuNn

I added a printf after the line to see what value 'pos' was assigned.

Code:

		
			if(strncmp(line, "quit", 4) == 0 || strncmp(line, "q", 1) == 0) 
				return 0;
			else dataScanned = sscanf(line, "%lf %lf %lf%n", &a, &b, &c, &pos);
                        printf("pos = %c\n", pos);

pos is an int, not a char. It is the index of the first character of the string which was NOT converted. In your case, the input is valid only if this character is the end of the string. You want to check if:

Code:

dataScanned == 4 && line[pos] == '\0'

If so, the input was valid. (It's 4 instead of 3 because the %n counts as a conversion)

I think it's overly stringent, since it doesn't allow trailing whitespace on the line. If it were me, I'd treat the example as valid input -- you'd go through your loop, then pick up the "h" the next time through and discard it as unrecognized. In other words, I think your code is fine as it is, but it's an aesthetic choice.

**NuNn** · 01-23-2009

Alrighty thank you once again brewbuck

**vart** · 01-23-2009

it also could be a whitespace like \n

**brewbuck** · 01-23-2009

Originally Posted by vart

it also could be a whitespace like \n

True. So you should check for '\n' as well as '\0'.

If it were me I'd trim all leading and trailing whitespace before conversion.

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