Thread: How to use an array of FILE pointers in a seperate function?

I know my pointer game is crap. I can use them, and most situations I encounter, call for something I have done before.

I have come across a new problem with my pointers and would like to figure this out. I know I can do it another way, but in my mind it would be sloppy, and I'd really like to fully understand pointers.

Here is the code (thus far):

Code:

// Declare includes.
#include <errno.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

// Declare defines.
#define BUFFER_SIZE              500
#define MUSIC_LIST_FILE            "full_music_list"
#define SYSTEM_PLAYLIST_FOLDER     "/Shared/Playlists/System/"

// Declare function prototypes.
void create_files (FILE **lists, int total);

int main (void)
{
// Declare variables.
    FILE *lists = NULL;
    FILE *fp = fopen(MUSIC_LIST_FILE, "r");
    int list_total = 19;

// Create lists and file pointers.
    if(fp != NULL)
        create_files(&lists, list_total);

// Exit cleanly.
    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}

void create_files (FILE **lists, int total)
{
// Declare variables.
    char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE] = {0};
    int counter = {0};

// Create enough entries for all the files.
    if((*lists = malloc(sizeof(FILE) * total)) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s error: malloc failed\n", __func__);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

    for(counter = 0; counter < total; counter++)
    {
// Create filename.
        sprintf(buffer, "%sPlaylist.%02d.pls", SYSTEM_PLAYLIST_FOLDER, counter);

// Create file pointer.
        if(((*lists)[counter] = fopen(buffer, "w")) == NULL)
        {
            fprintf(stderr, "%s error: fopen failed (%s) (%s)\n", __func__, strerror(errno), buffer);
            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
        }
    }
}

And here is the error I get:

Code:

create_music_lists.c:49:27: error: incompatible types when assigning to type ‘FILE’ from type ‘FILE *’
   49 |   if(((*lists)[counter] = fopen(buffer, "w")) == NULL)
      |                           ^~~~~
compilation terminated due to -Wfatal-errors.

Why is it complaining that I'm putting a `FILE *` into a `FILE`. The only declarations I have are for `FILE *`. Can someone please help me understand this enough to get it working?

Tyvm, it seems the problem, other than what was mentioned, was my malloc of `FILE` instead of `FILE *`.