Simple structure + pointer question

Hi,

I do not understand why the output of the following code like that:

Name = Apple Pie
ID = 123
Price = 1.65

Name = Greggs Coffee //do not understand
ID = 733 //why the value will be back to the static
Price = 3.20 //Was it caused by the keyword "static"?

to hold the variable constant??

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

struct sample {
char *name;
int *id;
float price;
};

static char product[] = "Greggs Coffee";
static float price1 = (float) 3.20;
static int id = 733;

void printrecord(struct sample *goods)
{
printf("Name = %s\n", goods->name);
printf("ID = %d\n", *goods->id);
printf("Price = %.2f\n", goods->price);

goods->name = &product[0]; //Greggs Coffee
goods->id = &id; //733
goods->price = price1; //3.20
}

main()
{
int code = 123, number;
char name[] = "Apple Pie";

struct sample item;

item.id = &code; //123
item.price = (float) 1.65;
item.name = name; //Apple Pie

number = *item.id; //123

printrecord(&item);

printf("Name = %s\n", item.name); //Apple Pie
printf("ID = %d\n", *item.id); //123
printf("Price = %.2f\n", item.price); //1.65

return 0;
}


Thanks for help.

gogo

Code:

---

printrecord(&item);

---

This means that the structure that you pass as an arguement to the function 'printrecord' is passed as a pointer to the structure object in main. You could do this, and it would be the same thing:

Code:

---

        struct sample *sptr;
        sptr = &item;
        printrecord(sptr);

---

The previous way looks better though. It looks cleaner. This means that any changes to the structure applied in the called function affect the structure in main. This is characteristic of passing an arguement by reference rather than by value. If you just did this, try it:

Code:

---

                  //call from main
        printrecord(item);

void printrecord(struct sample goods)
{
        printf("Name = %s\n", goods.name);
        printf("ID = %d\n", *goods.id);
        printf("Price = %.2f\n\n", goods.price);

        goods.name = &product[0]; //Greggs Coffee
        goods.id = &id; //733
        goods.price = price1; //3.20
}

---

Than even though there are changes to the structure, as you can see. Since the structure was passed by value, a copy of the structure was passed. This has no bearing on the structure defined in 'int main()'

Also, static is a scope specifier. It means that the variables are allocated once and remain that way for the life of the program. In cases with automatic variables, they are destroyed when the the function terminates. 'int main' is a little different because it does not terminate until the program is ended, since it is the point of entry. Try looking up the definition of 'static' to get some examples.

I am very sorry that I still do not understand why the second printf command will display Greggs Coffee, 3.20 and 773 for the global variables.

What do I not understand are:

1) I missed one code in between static variables and printrecord function: void printrecord(struct sample *);
What is it and why does need it? Is it abstruct class?

2) number = *item.id; //Why does need it? The number variable seems useless.

3) printrecord(&item); // really do not understand. Does it pass the address of &item to the printrecord function? If so, were the data of &item are Apple Pie, 123 and 1.65?

printf("Name = %s\n", item.name); //Apple Pie
printf("ID = %d\n", *item.id); //123
printf("Price = %.2f\n", item.price); //1.65

Why does the outcome will be the global variables? Greggs Coffee, 3.20 and 773.

Could you explain it to me?

Thanks for your kind help.

gogo:(

Mercy me, that's a confusing hunk of code you've been given man.

First, about declaring external variables static... It will only affect their linkage, which doesn't mean a darn thing unless your program is multiple files, so I'm just gonna get rid of those.

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

struct sample {
char *name;
int *id;
float price;
};

char product[] = "Greggs Coffee";
float price1 = (float) 3.20;
int id = 733;

//This function does not just print the record it is given...
//  It also changes the record.
void printrecord(struct sample *goods)
{
// 1. Print the record.
printf("Name = %s\n", goods->name);
printf("ID = %d\n", *goods->id);
printf("Price = %.2f\n", goods->price);

// 2. Change the values in the record to the globals.
goods->name = &product[0]; //Greggs Coffee
goods->id = &id; //733
goods->price = price1; //3.20
}

main()
{
int code = 123, number;
char name[] = "Apple Pie";

struct sample item;

item.id = &code; //pointer to 123
item.price = (float) 1.65;
item.name = name; //Apple Pie

number = *item.id; //123

printrecord(&item);
// item was printed to the screen, then changed

// now we print item again, but the values in item will
//  have changed due to printrecord.
printf("Name = %s\n", item.name); //Apple Pie
printf("ID = %d\n", *item.id); //123
printf("Price = %.2f\n", item.price); //1.65

return 0;
}

---

Now for your questions...
1. printrecord(struct sample *); is called a prototype. Your code will work fine without it, but here's what prototypes are for.. consider the following code...

Code:

---

main ()
{
 float f = addFloats(1.23, 4.56);
 printf ("%f", f);
 return;
}
float addFloats (float a, float b)
{
 return (a + b);
}

---

When the compiler encounters the call of addFloats in main, it had not yet encountered the function, so it does not know exactly what format the functions arguments are, nor what the format of it's return type it. If the function addFloats was written before main, then this wouldn't have been a problem. This still leaves a dillema, for example, what if two functions call each other, which to put first? The solution is to declare prototypes for each function around the beginning of your program, which tell the compiler what type all the arguments are. Prototypes are also very handy simply because it's nice to have a list of your functions available when you start to use a lot of them.

2. number = *item.id; You are correct, it is pretty useless, but like I said, this is super confusing code, so it needs some useless stuff. I think that line is just there to hammer in the idea that item.id is not an int, just a pointer to an int.

3. Understand, this is what happens...
printrecords is called...
the structure is printed...
the structure is changed to global variables...
printrecords ends...
the structure is printed.

The lines that change the struct are right there in printrecords...
goods->name = &product[0]; //Greggs Coffee
goods->id = &id; //733
goods->price = price1; //3.20

Yes, // item was printed to the screen, then changed
// now we print item again, but the values in item will
// have changed due to printrecord.

They are clearly explained. Thanks.

Yes, I got the prototype now. But, in this case is no use as the printrecord is before the main function. It will be useful if printrecord function was put after main().

Thanks for your kind help.

gogo