Thread: Learn about the getline function

Hopefully someone can explain to me how the getline function works. Thank you

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
int main()
{
    //welcome to main!
    //we need our input values!
    
    char inputstr[128];
    
    while(1)
    {
            if(feof(stdin) != 0)
            { break; }
            
getline(&inputstr, 128, NULL);

getline gets a line in a data file. I assume that inputstr[128] is the name of the file? why is the number of the array in the getline function

Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

You need to learn C first. None of the arguments you passed to getline are correct.

EDIT: At the very least, get a good grasp on types as well as a basic understanding of what a stream is.

It isn't my code. I found it in another tutorial website. I am showing it because the tutor said that getline would be a lot better to use. My code involves using fscanf and fprintf

Barney McGrew's response targets the question of how the getline function works, as in how might it be implemented and why.

I was responding to how they're using it, since according to my man-page the prototype is as follows:

Code:

ssize_t getline(char **lineptr, size_t *n, FILE *stream);

Going by the way it's been called in the code posted by arti, they convert a 'char (*)[128]' to a 'char **' and an 'int' to a 'size_t *'. They also pass a null pointer to the third parameter, which is a valid conversion but an invalid value for the function. An understanding of types and streams would, ideally, help them understand these problems.

Originally Posted by laserlight

I assumed that you were asking how to use getline, i.e., to get it to work for you. This is why I suggested that you read the relevant manual entry. That has not changed: you need to learn the declaration of the function and read an explanation of its parameters and return value, plus possible catches (e.g., the need to call free), possibly with examples.

Barney McGrew's response targets the question of how the getline function works, as in how might it be implemented and why. You are obviously not ready for that yet, and it was not your intended question anyway.


In that case, your code may change to use getline in conjunction with sscanf instead.

I did read it laserlight, but it wouldn't work in my program even though I followed the example in the man getline of linux. Which is when i switched to fgets because the tutor and another student said that fgets is simpler and works.