Thread: Returning multiple values

Hi, are there any alternative ways to return multiple value in only one function without using pointers, global variables, struct and macros?

*I have done it using pointers, but I want to know if there are any alternative ways to do it*

My example code using pointer

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

void get_print_Sales(); //Get the sales & print it using printSales function

void printSales(int *s, int *t); //Include this in get_print_Sales to print the sales in get_print_Sales function

int main(void)
{

    get_print_Sales();

    return 0;

}
void get_print_Sales()
{

    int sales, tax;

    printf("Enter sales amount : ");
    scanf("%d", &sales);

    printf("Enter tax amount : ");
    scanf("%d", &tax);

    printSales(&sales, &tax);

}

void printSales(int *s, int *t)
{

    printf("Sales amount : %d", *s);

    printf("Tax amount : %d", *t);

}

Yes, e.g., if you want to return 8 boolean values, you can just return an unsigned char in which each bit corresponds to a boolean value.

Originally Posted by xeon321

Hi, are there any alternative ways to return multiple value in only one function without using pointers, global variables, struct and macros?

*I have done it using pointers, but I want to know if there are any alternative ways to do it*

My example code using pointer

I my opinion your function getSales does NOT do what you say you what to do.

Tim S.

Originally Posted by xeon321

Umm, anymore other ways? This is due to in my assignment , it has been stated that the program can be done by using first seven chapters in my current syllabus.

Uh, you're asking the wrong question then. There are two accepted ways to "return multiple values" from a function: either return a struct or use out parameters (which will be pointers). The use of globals to facilitate such a thing is discouraged. The use of a macro does not count. What I talked about is just the return of a single value that is interpreted as multiple values. As such, choose one of the two main ways and be done with it.

EDIT:
Well, okay, there is a third way that shares some of the flaws of a global, but I guess it is acceptable because the standard library does it, e.g., strtok: you can return a pointer to an element of a static local array, and hence access the rest of the array. In a sense this is "returning multiple values". However, it shares a problem with the use of globals in that it is not re-entrant.

Well, in your program, there is no need for printSales to have pointer parameters. You can pass the integers by value.

Ah I got you. But hmm, sorry. This is a really bad example. In the actual program, I have lots more other things.

That is, you could have written:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

/* Get the sales & print it using printSales function */
void get_print_Sales(void);

/* Include this in get_print_Sales to print the sales in get_print_Sales function */
void printSales(int sales, int tax);

int main(void)
{
    get_print_Sales();
    return 0;
}

void get_print_Sales(void)
{
    int sales, tax;

    printf("Enter sales amount : ");
    scanf("%d", &sales);

    printf("Enter tax amount : ");
    scanf("%d", &tax);

    printSales(sales, tax);
}

void printSales(int sales, int tax)
{
    printf("Sales amount : %d", sales);
    printf("Tax amount : %d", tax);
}

Ah I got you. But hmm, sorry. This is a really bad example. In the actual program, I have lots more other things. Like, passing the value to 3rd function and 5th and finally to the main to print it out.

But thanks for the pointing out, made me realize that I can actually shorten many lines of code!

*So I guess our lecturer's idea is to make us write many functions and pass down the values like a staircase. *

Would using a array count?

It really depends on his/her definition of the word pointer and the word return.

Tim S.

Originally Posted by xeon321

Speaking of return, I would like to ask, for example, the value that you want to return is 3. The location where it returns to is only limited to main function? Or it can be anywhere else?

The location where it returns to is whatever function that called that function, i.e., the value is returned to the caller.