More trouble

Hi, I'm having another episode with function parameters, but I've included the source files.

Thanks for your help.

Code:

---

/*        Write        -        This module writes an array of 60 converted characters into        */
/*                                the output file generated by the software.                                        */

#include <stdio.h>

void Write (FILE **PtrfilePtr, const char *Chargroup)        char Character;
       
        while (Index < 60)
        {
{
        int Index = 0;

                Character = Chargroup[Index];
                putc(Character, *PtrfilePtr);
        }
       
        putc("|", *PtrfilePtr);
       
}

---

Code:

---

/*        Convert.c -                This module is the main loop of the conversion engine.        */
/*                                        It fills an array of 60 characters amd converts and    */
/*                                        writes the encrypted characters.                                                */

#include <stdio.h>


/*        Convert() -        Read a group of 60 characters.                                                        */

void Convert(FILE **InfilePtr, FILE **OutfilePtr)
{
        int Character, Index;
        char Chargroup[59];

        Index = 0;
        Character = getc(*InfilePtr);
       
        while (Character != EOF)
        {
                Chargroup[Index] = Character;
               
                if (Index == 59)
                {
                        Write(*OutfilePtr, Chargroup);
                        Index = 0;
                }
               
                else
                {
                        Index ++;
                }
               
                Character = getc(*InfilePtr);
        }

        printf("%s", Chargroup);
               
}

---

Was there a question you meant to ask? Maybe include some error messages?

Of course. I'm sorry.

I've pinpointed the problem to the write functions. The compiler says there's a parse error on lines with Chargroup or filepntr.

Code:

---

Write(*OutfilePtr, Chargroup);

---

The write function expects a FILE** and a const char*. You are passing it a FILE* and a char*.

I see. Should I pass is as so:

write (**OutfilePtr, Chargroup);

And take away the const declaration in the prototype?

I'm surprised the compiler even gets that far.

Code:

---

void Write (FILE **PtrfilePtr, const char *Chargroup)  // char Character; // this doesn't go here.
{
  char Character; //it does go here
  int Index = 0; //might work better outside of the while loop
  while (Index < 60)
  {
//{ //we can get rid of this
//    int Index = 0;  //this needs to be moved
      Character = Chargroup[Index];
      putc(Character, *PtrfilePtr);

      //you might want to change Index somewhere inside this while loop
      //otherwise, it'll be an infinite loop
  }       
// putc("|", *PtrfilePtr); //putc puts a character, not a string
  putc('|',*PtrFilePtr);
}

---

And you need to pass it as:

Code:

---

write (OutfilePtr, Chargroup);

---

OutfilePtr is already a FILE**; you don't want to dereference it.

And then there is the write function itself. I'm not sure if you messed up pasting your code or not, but there are some obvious problems with it. Did you mean to do this?

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

void Write (FILE **PtrfilePtr, const char *Chargroup)
{
        char Character;
        int Index = 0;

        while (Index < 60)
        {
                Character = Chargroup[Index];
                putc(Character, *PtrfilePtr);
                Index++;
        }
       
        putc('|', *PtrfilePtr);
       
}

---

Quote:

---

I see. Should I pass is as so:

write (**OutfilePtr, Chargroup);

And take away the const declaration in the prototype?

---

No, you should pass it as:

Code:

---

Write(OutfilePtf, Chargroup);

---

Thanks, there were some obvious problems there - most shamefull, thanks for pointing them out.

But I don't understand why I would pass the file pointer as a non-pointer. Why?

You're not passing it as a non-pointer. OutfilePtf is a FILE**, and that is what you are passing.

I understand. But what about the function prototype?

There is a difference between the use of the * in this:

Code:

---

char* pCharacterPointer;

---

and this:

Code:

---

int anotherInt = *pIntPointer

---

The first one is declaring a character pointer. In the second one, the * is being used as the indirection operator. The indirection operator allows you to get at the value being pointed at by the pointer. Consider the following code sample:

Code:

---

int main()
{
  int a = 3;  //a = 3
  int *b = &a;  //b now points to a

  *b = 7;  //the value that b points to = 7
  printf("%d",a);  //should output 7
  return 0;
}

---

In your code, OutfilePtf is a FILE**. The expression *OutfilePtf is a FILE*, and the expression **OutfilePtf is a FILE. By adding more *'s, you're actually getting further away from the solution.

Okay, I understand now. Thanks.