Pointer to multidimensional array

Hello,

I want to write a function which returns a multidimensional array of bools. I gather that you cannot return an array in C++, but you can return a pointer to array. I have tried this, and it works fine when my array has a single dimension - but I want it to have two dimensions.

Code:

---

bool** myFunction(bool myArray[5][10])
{
// Do some stuff to myArray

bool** myPointer;
myPointer = myArray;
return myPointer;
}

---

However, when I compile this, I get the following error:
"error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert from 'bool [5][10]' to 'bool **"

Please can anyone show me how I can return this pointer in the correct manner?

Thanks

That is correct, you can not convert a 2D array into a pointer to pointer - they are not the same thing. The memory used by that 2D array is simply a 1D array, with information provided by the programmer to tell the compiler how to calculate the actual position of myarray[y][x].

So the compiler would not be able to provide a char ** from this...

Also, if you where to do:

Code:

---

bool **p;

p = myFunction(someArray);
p[2][3] = false;

---

then the compiler will try to find the third pointer in an array of pointers ([2] is the third element), and then use the value in that memory to get to the fourth element on from that location. Since you are not actually returning the address of an array of pointers, the first step will use some random data from whatever happens to be after your pointer, and then we're definitely in "undefined-land", where anything that happens is completely unpredictable (makes Alice in Wonderland seem sane).

--
Mats

Ok thanks, that makes sense. But in that case, what do I do if I need to change the values of the elements in myArray, and return myArray at the end of the function??

Why do you need to RETURN myArray - all arrays are passed as a pointer to the first element, so anything you change in the array will be modified in the original array, not the "copy" in the function [because there is no copy].

--
Mats

Since this is C++:

Code:

---

vector< vector<bool> > MyFunc()
{
    vector< vector<bool> > v;
    // Do something with v;
    return v;
}

---

Or you can change bool to char since bool is a special case vector.