Initializing array members in a struct

Hey guys, stupid syntax question here.
I'm defining a structure with a few array members which I'm trying to initialize by using a declaration list. It is not working and according to google it seems not to be legal syntax in c.

The alternative is to declare the members inside a different structure as non-array types, and then declare an array of members inside another the struct, but that complicates my interfacing code a bit.

Here's my original illegal code to give some semblance of meaning to my ramble

Code:

---

typedef struct    s_format_groups
{
    const char specifier[][16] =
    {
        {'d', 'D' 'i', 'O', 'u', 'U', 'x', 'X'},
        {'s', 'S', 'c', 'C'},
        {'p'}
    };
    const char length[] = {'h', 'l', 'j', 'z'}; // remember to account for "hh" && "ll" maybe define MAX_COUNT 2 as the max number of flag repeats
    const char flags[] = {'-', '+', ' ', '#', '0'};
    const char width[] = {'*'};
    const char precision[] = {'.'};

}                t_format_groups;

---

What would be a good way to achieve what I'm trying to do?

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

typedef struct s_format_groups {
    const char specifier[3][9];
    const char length[5];
    const char flags[6];
    const char width[2];
    const char precision[2];
} t_format_groups;

int main() {
    t_format_groups fg = {
        .specifier = {
            "dDiOuUxX",
            "sScC"
            "p"
        },
        .length = "hljz",
        .flags = "-+ #0",
        .width = "*",
        .precision = "."
    };
 
    printf("%s\n", fg.specifier[0]);

    return 0;
}

---

Alternatively:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>
 
struct {
    const char specifier[3][9];
    const char length[5];
    const char flags[6];
    const char width[2];
    const char precision[2];
} format_groups = {
    {
        "dDiOuUxX",
        "sScC"
        "p"
    },
    "hljz",
    "-+ #0",
    "*",
    "."
};
 
int main() {
    printf("%s\n", format_groups.specifier[0]);
    return 0;
}

---

Thank you John!
I particularly like your second solution, as it much better fits my intended use for the code. I hope this is allowed in pre-c99 mode as I am limited to that for now.

Big kudos! :thumbsup: