getchar() problem

This code works exactly like I expect by itself:

Code:

       #include <stdio.h>

	int main()
	{
	char reqOrSugg, oldOrNew; 
	
  	printf ("\nIs This Textbook Required Or Suggested?\n");
	printf ("Enter R for Required or S for Suggested:\n");
	reqOrSugg = getchar();
	while (getchar() != '\n');

	printf ("Is This Textbook Old Or New?\n");
	printf ("Enter O for old or N for new:\n");
	oldOrNew = getchar();
	while (getchar() != '\n');

	printf ("%c%s",reqOrSugg,"\n");
	printf ("%c%s",oldOrNew,"\n");

	return 0;
        }

But in my program seen next it is skipping reading in the R but the N is read in fine.

Code:

        ~
        printf ("\nPlease Enter The Expected Enrollment: \n");
	scanf ("%lf", &expectedEn);
	printf ("%1.0lf%s",expectedEn,"\n");
	
	printf ("\nIs This Textbook Required Or Suggested?\n");
	printf ("Enter R for Required or S for Suggested:\n");
	reqOrSugg = getchar();
	while (getchar() != '\n');

	printf ("Is This Textbook Old Or New?\n");
	printf ("Enter O for old or N for new:\n");
	oldOrNew = getchar();
	while (getchar() != '\n');

	printf ("%c%s",reqOrSugg,"\n");
	printf ("%c%s",oldOrNew,"\n");

        if (reqOrSugg == 'R' || oldOrNew == 'N')
		{
		numToOrd = expectedEn * .9;
		}
        ~

Can anyone explain this to me and tell me how to correct this? I suspect it has something to do with the new lines. I cant get the if/else to work without this working first. Ty

Justin

Code:

printf ("\nPlease Enter The Expected Enrollment: \n");
scanf ("%lf", &expectedEn);
printf ("%1.0lf%s",expectedEn,"\n");
	
printf ("\nIs This Textbook Required Or Suggested?\n");
printf ("Enter R for Required or S for Suggested:\n");
reqOrSugg = getchar();
while (getchar() != '\n');

printf ("Is This Textbook Old Or New?\n");
printf ("Enter O for old or N for new:\n");
oldOrNew = getchar();
while (getchar() != '\n');

The scanf function will leave the trailing newline character in the input stream after reading in the enrollment. This newline character is read by the next getchar call and saved into the reqOrSugg variable. You will then be in the while loop waiting for another newline character but thinking you are still at the point in the line above where you wish to enter the R/S character. Once you press R/S and then enter you exit the while loop. Your R/S choice is not stored anywhere, it is discarded.

Solution: You need to get rid of the newline character after your call to scanf.

Makes sense to me but riddle me this. I tried it with ALL the \n taken out before the getchar() and still cant read in reqOrSugg. Even if that would have worked I am still screwed because all the output comes out messed up and thats major deductions.

How can I format the output by line w/o messing up getchar()? Besides I thought that this

Code:

	while (getchar() != '\n');

was supposed to make the getchar() ignore new lines?

Been thinking about it and maybe its not the \n. I am thinking that getchar() is reading in the <return> from the previous input. If thats the case how do I getchar() with out reading in the <return>?

Originally Posted by jlharrison

Makes sense to me but riddle me this. I tried it with ALL the \n taken out before the getchar() and still cant read in reqOrSugg. Even if that would have worked I am still screwed because all the output comes out messed up and thats major deductions.

How can I format the output by line w/o messing up getchar()? Besides I thought that this

Code:

	while (getchar() != '\n');

was supposed to make the getchar() ignore new lines?

All that loop will do is ignore excess characters up to (and including) the first newline. If you have input consisting of a hundred q's followed by enter and then an 'e', then the loop above will discard everything in the input stream and stop at the 'e' which will be the next character read. You can put another copy of that while loop just after the scanf call to eat up the trailing newline that is causing your problems.

Code:

printf ("%c%s",reqOrSugg,"\n");
printf ("%c%s",oldOrNew,"\n");

How about:

Code:

printf ("%c\n",reqOrSugg);
printf ("%c\n",oldOrNew);

I will do you one better. Take this whole section of code out...

Code:

printf ("%c%s",reqOrSugg,"\n");
printf ("%c%s",oldOrNew,"\n");

Still stores the value of reqOrSugg as nothing.

I understand what the while loops purpose is now. Changed code to this and all is well!

Code:

while (getchar() != '\n');
oldOrNew = getchar();

Code:

while (getchar() != '\n');
oldOrNew = getchar();

Thanks for your patience as I am super new to this!