Thread: ANSI C parsing char array as pointer

Hey guys.

Im experiencing problems trying to parse a char array as a pointer to a function i have defined in my code. This code is being written purely for self learning purposes though the wall i have hit is driving me nuts. Ive checked out the tutorials and i cant seem to find an answer to this unless ive overlooked it. Im using the gcc (c99) compiler.

heres the code i have so far:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void read_string(char *);

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
	char forename[30], surname[30], banner_id[9], programme[50];
	char a = 'a';
	int stage = 0;
	
	printf("Please type your forename:\n");
	//scanf("%30s", &forename);
	read_string( &forename);
	printf("Please type your surname:\n");
	scanf("%30s", &surname);
	
	printf("Please type your banner ID:\n");
	scanf("%9s", &banner_id);
	
	printf("Please type your programme of study:\n");
	scanf("%50s", &programme);
	
	printf("Please type your year of study:\n");
	scanf("%d", &stage);
	
	printf("\n%s %s %s\n%s\n%d\n\n", forename, surname, banner_id, programme, stage);
	
	return 0;
}

void read_string(char *l_string)
{
/*	char character;
	int index;
	for (index = 0; index < (sizeof(l_string) * sizeof(char)); index++)
	{
		scanf("%c", &character);
		if (character == EOF)
		{
			return;
		}
		else
		{
			l_string[index] = character;
		}
	}
	return;
*/}

Originally i had all my inputs as scanf, then i encountered a problem whereby if i entered spaces it messed everything up, i dont see this as a problem because while exploring other options i encountered something i find even more mind boggling.

I get the compiler error of:

Originally Posted by C99 Compiler

gcc -o q2/main q2/main.c
q2/main.c: In function ‘main’:
q2/main.c:34: warning: passing argument 1 of ‘read_string’ from incompatible pointer type

So i have tried the following corrections to no avail: (prototype first then implementation)
void read_string(char *);
void read_string(char *l_string)

void read_string(char *[]);
void read_string(char *l_string[])

void read_string(char *);
void read_string(char *l_string[])

void read_string(char[] *);
void read_string(char *l_string[])

none of which seem to work. So question is, how do i pass in my char array as a pointer and not get these errors?

the test call for the function is the line: read_string( &forename);

(of course the function is commented out, i was trying to reduce the possibilities of what was causing this problem)

Thanks in advance for any help.

When you call read_string, you don't put the ampersand.