Access vector<structure> elements in a function, how?

Some help please. I have confused myself with pointers, structures and vectors again, and all references are only aggravating that confusion at this stage. I need a clear, specific answer, please...

I'll start here, in case I am totally wrong right from the very beginning. I make a structure globally, like this;

Code:

---

// Globals
struct a_struct
{
        double x_position;
        double y_position;
};

---

Then in main I declare it as a vector;

Code:

---

int main()
{
        vector<a_struct> position;

        //......
}

---

Here I have had no trouble, as I can pass it to a function to "push_back" the vector with success, like this;

Code:

---

// The Function
void increase_vec_size(vector<a_struct> *posit)
{
        a_struct temp_struct = {0};
        temp_struct.x_position = 10.5; // for example..
        temp_struct.y_position = 15.2;
        posit->push_back(temp_struct);
}

// And it was called from within main() like this...
int main()
{
        //.......

        increase_vec_size(&position);

        //......
}

---

So, that works. But now I want to access the conents of my vector in another function. I run into trouble...

Code:

---

// The Function
void access_vec_elements(vector<a_struct> *posit, size_t vec_sz)
{
        double x_pos;
        double y_pos;

        // This does not work...
        x_pos = posit.at(vec_sz).x_position;
        y_pos = posit.at(vec_sz).y_position;

        // Nor does this...
        x_pos = posit[vec_sz].x_position;
        y_pos = posit[vec_sz].y_position;

        // And I certainly am not able to do this...
        x_pos = posit->at(vec_sz)->x_position;
        y_pos = posit->at(vec_sz)->y_position;
}

// And it is called from main() this way...
int main()
{
        //.......

        access_vec_elements(&position, position.size());
       
        //.......
}

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So, how do I access the elements of a vector structure in a function?

I can't stand stabbing around randomly trying to figure it out. I honestly can't get it, so I ask for some help. Sorry if it looks really basic.

My sincere thanks in advance for any assistance.

Honestly, it would be a lot clearer and simpler if you just passed a reference to your vector, rather than a pointer.

All the things in access_vec_elements() either access something which doesn't exist, or access something off the end of the vector.

Thanks, Salem, but you see that's just it. I am having trouble figuring out how to pass a reference of something that already appears to have pointer behaviour. I would love to treat it as an if passing array, but it does not like it one little bit, at least the way I have tried (which is wrong).

The best I can do is something in between all the attempts above, like such;

Code:

---

void access_vec_elements(vector<a_struct> *posit, size_t vec_sz)
{
    double x_pos;
    double y_pos;

    x_pos = posit->at(vec_sz).x_position;
    y_pos = posit->at(vec_sz).y_position;
}

---

However, I am not at all sure that this is a very good way to do it, as my understanding of vectors is clearly deficient.

My thanks, just the same.

Like I said, vec_sz is off the end of the vector.

Try
x_pos = posit->at(0).x_position;
y_pos = posit->at(0).y_position;
to access the first element of the vector.

Snap!

Silly me. Thanks!!!

Code:

---

void access_vec_elements(vector<a_struct> & posit) // Passing by reference
{
    size_t vec_sz = posit.size(); // No need to send along vector's size. It keeps track of that itself.

    // NO CONFUSION! YAY!
    double x_pos = posit.at(vec_sz - 1).x_position;
    double y_pos = posit.at(vec_sz - 1).y_position;
}

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