Error in using free(*variable)

[amalendu]

Hello,

I am using code::blocks (10.05) for building and running c-programs on Windows-7. In some programs, function free(*variable) produces code crash. I do not why? I think on 64-bit system it produces error, as perhaps C99 implementation returns 32 bit int (irrespective of cast??). Please can any one help me in this matter i.e. what is the way out on Windows-7?. Code is below:

#include<stdlib.h>
#include<stdio.h>
#include<string.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <dirent.h>
#include"keyword_loader.h"
int main(void)
{
    int i, j, k, nfiles;
    file_kewords *ptr_files;  // structure defined in keyword_loader.h
    char *pr_path;
    if((ptr_files=(file_kewords*)calloc(FILEMAX, sizeof(file_kewords))) == NULL)
    {
        printf("\n  err in mem-allocation\n");
        getchar();
        return(0);
    }
    if((pr_path=(char*)calloc(FILENAME_MAX, sizeof(char))) == NULL)
       {
           free(ptr_files);
           printf("\n  err in mem-allocation\n");
           getchar();
           return(0);
       }
    // Calling function for getting all the filenames
    i=load_filenames(ptr_files, &nfiles, pr_path);
    if(i == 0)
    {
        printf("\n Path for all files: %s\n",pr_path);
        for(j=0; j<=nfiles-1; j++)
        {
            printf("\n Passed filename: %s",(ptr_files+j)->filename);
        }
    }
    printf("\n\n Returned value: %d",i);
    // Calling function for loading keywords from specified file
    k=read_file((ptr_files+1)->filename, pr_path);
    printf("\n ----Returned value: %d",k);
    //free(ptr_files);
    //free(pr_path);
    getchar();
    return(0);
}

If I remove the comments indication from last two free() function calls, code crashes.

Thanks and regards,
Amal.

[Salem]

We need all the code, not just main()

It will be nothing to do with whether you're using a 32/64 bit compiler/OS or anything to do with C99.
It will be a bug in your code - almost certainly.

[amalendu]

Thanks Salem,
The code for functions is a bit long, so I am giving here the last portion of function "read_file". Without calling this function there is no error.

        if(brk_index == 3)break;
    }
    printf("\n\n  Before program end\n");
    fclose(fp_test);
    fclose(fp_read);
    free(ptr_str);
    free(path_n_file);
    printf("\n\n  Just before return\n");
    return(0);
}

On running the last two printf calls (in function "read_file") runs sucessfully. Error occurs only when I uncommented the free() functions in main(). Here "ptr_str"and "path_n_file" are local variables of function. Although I am once again in try to debug the function.

[Salem]

> free(ptr_str);
> free(path_n_file);
So are you trying to free the same thing twice?