Thread: Returning Array

  1. #1
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    Returning Array

    Hi all,

    please correct me if i make a stupid statement....

    I know/think i know its not possible to explicitly return an array within C. However i am undert the impression that it is possible to do so using pointers. Ive had a read of various tutorials but none of which really have helped me in what im trying to do.

    Im trying to....

    1. pass an array to a function,

    2. manipulate the array data

    3. return the array back to main

    thats the simplest way i can describe it i think. I have provided the required sinpets from my main function and the function that i want to edit my array elements.


    heres what ive tried......fairly certain its rubbish but what the hell... if some one could help me clear this one up id be very greatful

    thanks

    Baffa


    Code:
    void MixColumns(int *ptr[], int size){
    
    int r[4];
    
    
    r[0] = ptr[0]*2 + ptr[12] + ptr[8] + ptr[4]*3;
    
    r[1] = 2*(ptr[4]) + ptr[0] + ptr[12] + 3*(ptr[8]);
    
    r[2] = 2*(ptr[8]) + ptr[4] + ptr[0] + 3*(ptr[12]);
    
    r[3] = 2*(ptr[12]) + ptr[8] +ptr[4] +3*(ptr[0]);
    
    
    ptr[0] = r[0];
    
    ptr[4] = r[1];
    
    ptr[8] = r[2];
    
    ptr[12] = r[3];
    
    
    return ptr;
    
    }
    
    int main (){
    
    
    int current_state[16];
    
    int *ptr = current_state;
    
    current_state = MixColumns(ptr, 16);
    
    return 0;
    }

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    When an array is passed as an argument, it decays to a pointer to its first element. Consequently, modifying the elements of the array passed modifies the elements of the array from the caller. In that sense, returning the array would be unnecessary.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  3. #3
    Kernel hacker
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    Remove the line saying "return ptr" and you should be good to go. Of course, you are also not using the size, so that's not needed - it's a good thing to pass the size, but it makes no sense to pass it if all you do is ignore it.

    --
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    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

  4. #4
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    you what? so i dont need to return it anyway? you saying to just use a void function or somthing because when the array data is modified in the function?


    Oh poo ive realised i put void instead of having


    int MixColumns(int ptr[], int size){......

  5. #5
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    Yes, your code, as it stands, updates the info inside the array.

    --
    Mats
    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

  6. #6
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    Code:
     line 57: error: expression must have arithmetic or enum type
    
      r[0] = ptr[0]*2 + ptr[12] + ptr[8] + ptr[4]*3;
    
                                                             ^
    im getting a lot of these errors throughout the code on compliation.

    Is there somthing im doing wrong to manipulate the array elements?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by baffa View Post
    Code:
     line 57: error: expression must have arithmetic or enum type
    
      r[0] = ptr[0]*2 + ptr[12] + ptr[8] + ptr[4]*3;
    
                                                             ^
    im getting a lot of these errors throughout the code on compliation.

    Is there somthing im doing wrong to manipulate the array elements?
    Unless this is a 2-dimensional array you're passing, change the function to:
    Code:
    void MixColumns(int *ptr, int size){

  8. #8
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    You are passing an array of pointers. You probably want to change "int *ptr[]" to "int ptr[]".
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  9. #9
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    woow that was awesome.....i only get this now any ideas? i dont what an lvalue is?...

    Code:
    error: expression must be a modifiable lvalue
    
      current_state = MixColumns(ptr);

  10. #10
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    MixColumns() is now declared as returning void, right? As such, you cannot assign its return value to current_state is there is no return value.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  11. #11
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    ye but what i wanted to do was then return the data in the mixcolumns function to the current_state column. sorry thats my fault for being a bit vague. I did wonder how having a void function would do that :P

    ye i want to assign the array elements in the mixcolumns function to the current state array in main. How would i do that?

  12. #12
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    ye i want to assign the array elements in the mixcolumns function to the current state array in main. How would i do that?
    What is the ptr variable for? It looks like you want to write:
    Code:
    MixColumns(current_state);
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  13. #13
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    I used ptr as the pointer to the array as I thought that i needed to use that to reference the array and return it.

    can there be a case where i can have this in my main function?
    Code:
    current_state = MixColumns(current_state);
    thats is ideally what i want but i dont know how i can return the amended array to update current_state.

  14. #14
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    can there be a case where i can have this in my main function?
    Yes, but as stated you do not need to return from MixColumns().
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    When an array is passed as an argument, it decays to a pointer to its first element. Consequently, modifying the elements of the array passed modifies the elements of the array from the caller. In that sense, returning the array would be unnecessary.
    I agree (of course) and I like the word "decay"! That's exactly what happens.
    It should be pointed out (I'm sure it's in the FAQ) that it only happens to the first dimension of a multi-dimensional array. The other dimensional information is useable in the callee at compile-time. For example, the following works no matter what the size of the extra dimensions.
    Code:
    int addem3d(int a[][2][2], int size) {
        int sum = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < size; ++i)
            for (int j = 0; j < sizeof(*a)/sizeof(**a); ++j)
                for (int k = 0; k < sizeof(**a)/sizeof(***a); ++k)
                    sum += a[i][j][k];
        return sum;
    }

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