Changing a char pointer via DLL

I would like to pass 2 char pointers to my DLL (input_buffer,output_buffer) and obtain the output in my API via the output buffer.

Is this doable ? My working sample code below tells me otherwise. Is writing the output buffer to a file the only option.

Source code
---------------
[code]
/* filename: mock_test.c */
#include <stdio.h>
char *var1="Hello World";
int main()
{
int err = 0;
printf ("Original value of var1 : %s\n", var1);
err = DLL_API (var1);
printf ("Altered value of var1 : %s\n", var1);
return err;
}
[\code]

DLL:

Code:

/* Mock DLL to modify a char array */
/* filename: mock_dll.c*/
#include <stdio.h>

char *text="Ah.. Hey! there";

int
DLL_API(var1)
{
  var1=text;

  printf ("DLL: var1 : %s\n", var1);

  return 0;
}

Output:
---------
$ gcc -c mock_dll.c -g && gcc -Wall -shared -g -o mock_dll.dll mock_dll.o && gc
c -o mock_test mock_test.c -g -L ./ -lmock_dll

mock_dll.c: In function `DLL_API':

mock_dll.c:9: warning: assignment makes integer from pointer without a cast

$ ./mock_test
Original value of var1 : Hello World
DLL: var1 : Ah.. Hey! there
Altered value of var1 : Hello World

To change anything, whehter it is a pointer, float, int, or some struct [1], you need to pass the address of it, so that the called function can store something back into the original variable.

As your code works now, you pass var1 to the function, which gets it's OWN COPY of var1 (called var1, just so that we can confuse everyone to think that it's the same variable - but it isn't). You then change the function's var1. But when you get back, the copy has been lost (as you leave the function). The above solution with passing the address will solve that problem [And of course, it has absolutely nothing to do with DLL's - it would be exactly the same problem if the function was in the same file or linked statically to the executable].

--
Mats

Originally Posted by matsp

The above solution with passing the address will solve that problem [And of course, it has absolutely nothing to do with DLL's - it would be exactly the same problem if the function was in the same file or linked statically to the executable].

--
Mats

Thanks Mats. However, passing the address as "&var1" did not work either. This is a version that actually works

Solution:

Code:

/* file: mock_test.c */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
/*
extern void changeBuff(char *, char *);
*/

int main() {
       char *buffer;

       buffer = malloc (sizeof(char)*4);
       strcpy(buffer,"abc");

       printf ("original buffer value: %p %s\n",buffer,buffer);
       changeBuff(buffer,"DEFG");
       printf ("buffer value has beed changed to: %s\n",buffer,buffer); 
}

/* file: mock_dll.c */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void changeBuff(char *buf, const char* newbuf) {
       printf ("changing buffer now %p %s\n",buf, buf);
       buf = realloc(buf, sizeof(char) * strlen(newbuf));
       strcpy (buf,newbuf);
}

You aren't understanding. Pointers are just like every other variable. They store a value. To keep changes made to a passed variable, you need a pointer to that variable, not just the variable itself.

To change an int in a function, you need to have the function receive a pointer to the int. Not the int itself.

Code:

void fun1( int no );
void fun2( int *yes );

To change a pointer (the address the pointer holds) in a function so that it's updated outside of the function, you need to pass a pointer to the pointer. Not he pointer itself.

Code:

void fun1( int *no );
void fun2( int **yes );

Quzah.

Originally Posted by quzah

To change a pointer (the address the pointer holds) in a function so that it's updated outside of the function, you need to pass a pointer to the pointer. Not he pointer itself.

Code:

void fun1( int *no );
void fun2( int **yes );

Quzah.

Agreed. Even with a pointer to pointer referencing this original code does not succeed.

Do you have an example of a working code that proves this concept? Other than the solution posted in my second comment..

Originally Posted by rockpaandi

Agreed. Even with a pointer to pointer referencing this original code does not succeed.

show your attempt and we point to your errors