Thread: initializing static int**

Hi, as you see from the title I'm wondering is it possible to initialize global variable like

Code:

static const int daytab[2][12] = {
    {31, 28, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31},
    {31, 29, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31 }
};

except that I'm trying to make a pointer version so I tried to initialize

Code:

static int** digits = /*...*/

It seems to not work even with creating function initialize() and even if I remove the static keyword

Code:

int** initialize()
{
    int** p = (int**)malloc(sizeof(int**) * 2);


    for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i)
        *(p + i) = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int) * 12);
    
    /*initialize elements*/
    return p;
}


int** digits = initialize();

I'm getting the error that this function call is not allowed in a constant expression.

It was an exercise to do some stuff without using [] so I'm trying to do this. Is this even possible to do? What would be the closest thing to do this if some [] have to be used like

Code:

static int* digits[2] = /*...*/

And even if I would succeed there would be no way to release the resources allocate by malloc when the program terminates. This is probably why its not allowed right?

In c you don't need to cast the malloc call. And you may want to try int **p = malloc(sizeof(*p) * 2);

I don't think that is going to work. That is a pointer to a pointer vs an array with dimensions which tells the compiler how much memory to allocate.

Why does it need to be an int**? Why not something like:

Code:

static const int daytab[][12] = {
    {31, 28, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31},
    {31, 29, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31 }
};

Jim

Tnx for replies! I was just wondering if its possible to do it