help with structs and pointers in C++

Ok this is my situation I have this header file:

Code:

---

struct dir
{
  char name[3];
  int root_dir;
  int has_children;
  int num_children;
  int offset_to_children[2];
  int offset_to_files[16];
};
struct files
{
  char name[5];
  int size;
  int offset_to_beginning;
  int has_fragment;
  int next_fragment;
};
struct fat
{
  int files;
  int dirs;
  struct dir *dir_array;
  struct files *file_array;
};

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In my program if I want to access the struct fat member *dir_array or *file_array, given that this member are pointers to another struct how can I access this members from my main program? This is what I'm doing and it compiles:

Code:

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fat *pfat;
pfat->dir_array->root_dir=0;

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My doubt is if I'm doing it right. Can anybody clarify my doubt and point my to the right direction. Thanks!!!

Any pointers inside of structs start pointing to nothing. You have to allocate space for them:

Code:

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fat pfat;
pfat->dir_array = (dir *)malloc(sizeof(dir));
pfat->dir_array->root_dir=0;

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EDIT: If you want an array of dir or files you have to multiply by the size of the array

Code:

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fat pfat;
int array_size = 4;
pfat->dir_array = (dir *)malloc(sizeof(dir) * array_size);
pfat->dir_array[0]->root_dir = 0;

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If you want fat to be a pointer you have to allocate that as well... Also make sure you create a free function for your structure that first frees any allocated members (dir_array or files_array) then frees the struct itself.

Code:

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fat *pfat = (fat *)malloc(sizeof(fat));

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Are you using C or C++?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by casper29

My doubt is if I'm doing it right. Can anybody clarify my doubt and point my to the right direction. Thanks!!!

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You are doing it correctly. The rule is that structs use "." to access members, while pointers (to structs) use "->" to access members. This is the sort of error your compiler will safely catch when you mess up.