Need help to output columns

Hey I have made a program that prints out 100 random numbers, but the numbers are printed in a long list. I want the output to be in 5 columns of 20 numbers each column, I've tried various ways and the output would always be an endless loop. ( I've used a for loop ) the code here is a full working code with the long list. Please help :/

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>


int main(void){
       
  int counter,ascending,sort,search;
  int files[100];
 
 
  printf("Random file numbers\n");
 
        srand(time(NULL));
        for(counter=0;counter<100;counter++){
    files[counter] = rand()%9999+1;
        printf("%d\n", files[counter]);
  }

---

I think this part of the code is enough rather than the whole code which is too long.

Try using nested for loops: the outer loop will loop 20 times; the inner loop will loop 5 times.

I know this will get me a facepalm or something but I'm really new to programming, I added this and I got an endless loop output

Code:

---

for (counter1=0; counter1<5; counter1++){ 
        for (counter=0; counter<20; counter++){
       
                printf ("%d", files[counter]);
                }
        printf ("\n");
    }
   
}

---

As is often the case, the issue can be approached in many ways. One such alternate still using a single loop is: test the result of the value of the counter variable modulus 5 within the loop to decide when to print a newline instead of always printing a newline as you currently do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kokoys

I know this will get me a facepalm or something but I'm really new to programming, I added this and I got an endless loop output

---

With nested loops, each loop should have its own counter variable.

I don't know what the problem is, I'm always getting an endless loop, can you show me an example please ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kokoys

I don't know what the problem is, I'm always getting an endless loop, can you show me an example please ?

---

The problem is that because you reuse the variable named counter in both the inner and outer loops, you keep resetting counter to 0 when you should not do so. Consider this program that prints 4 columns of asterisks with 3 asterisks per column:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    int i;
    for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)
    {
        int j;
        for (j = 0; j < 4; j++)
        {
            printf("*");
        }
        printf("\n");
    }
    return 0;
}

---

I'm using counter and counter1

Do you actually need the array? I assumed that you either would change your array to a 2D array, or get rid of it since you don't seem to need more than one variable.

If you prefer to keep the array and have it be a 1D array, then you can either compute the index, or you may find hk_mp5kpdw's suggestion to be simpler for such a case.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kokoys

I'm using counter and counter1

---

In that case your loop will not be an infinite loop.

I have to keep the array, that's the problem, It's part of a task I'm doing, I don't know how to do what hk_mp5kpdw told me to, ( I tried, but I failed )

What is the code that you tried?

I tried something like this but still failing

Code:

---

srand(time(NULL));
        for(counter=0;counter<100;counter++){
    files[counter] = rand()%9999+1;
        for(counter1=0;counter1<5;counter++){
                for(a=1;a<20;a++){
                        if(counter1 == 20){
                                counter1 = 0;
                                        printf("\n");
                                }
                        }
                }
       


        printf("%d\n", files[counter]);
  }

---

If you want to use hk_mp5kpdw's suggestion, then you will not have nested loops.

I'll just leave it as it is, I can't do it, I can't waste any more time on it I have loads off stuff to work on, thanks for helping.