Using Pointers With Strings

Right, I am getting into a little bit of trouble here!!! ...I know about pointers and how they work, and have used many in the past for different applications etc.

Basically, I am trying to find a way to save users input through different menus so I can create a request that gets sent to the server which reads the request and responds!

I dont want an answer, I really would like an example, I have looked everywhere; but am going nowhere!!!!

So, for example, if i am selling a car to the user, I want to gather information about what they want; color engine size etc....

-MENU 1-
Please enter the color you want
1.red
2.blue
3.black

-MENU 2-
Please choose an engine size
1. 1.0
2. 1.2
3. 1.4

-MENU 3-
Please choose style of car
1. 4x4
2. Saloon
3. Sports

OK, so the user goes through the menu choosing options, but what i want to have is a pointer to a string (or memory containing chars) that represents a request such as:

(using the car protocol that i just made up off the top of my head!)

"POST MYCAR CP/1.0\r\nCar-Options:#color;red#engine;1.0#style;sports\r\n\r\n "

I really would like to know how to save user input into memory or a string buffer so it creates the message as it goes through the different stages!

I started off with scanf("%s", buffer) and had a different char array for each one, but it was set to 256 chars long, so there was a lot of rubbish data inbetween each of the elements in the request!!!! ...If anyone understands what I am trying to get at, please please, your help is much appriciated!!!!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, if you use sprintf then it should be easy:

Code:

---

char * colormenu[] = {"red","blue","black"};
char * stylemenu[] = {"4x4","Saloon","Sports"};
char command[100]; // Arbitrary length, make as long as you need it

int colorchoice, stylechoice, loop;

printf("Please enter the color you want\n");
for( loop = 0; loop < sizeof colormenu / sizeof *colormenu; ++loop )
    printf("%d.%s\n",loop+1,colormenu[loop]);
scanf("%d",&colorchoice);

printf("Please enter the style you want\n");
for( loop = 0; loop < sizeof stylemenu / sizeof *stylemenu; ++loop )
    printf("%d.%s\n",loop+1,stylemenu[loop]);
scanf("%d",&stylechoice);

sprintf(command,"POST MYCAR CP/1.0\r\nCar-Options:#color;%s#style;%s\r\n\r\n ",
        colormenu[colorchoice-1],stylemenu[stylechoice-1]);

---

I skipped the engine related code to cut down on the size for this example. After the code executes, the command character array should contain the formated command string.

Thanks a lot my friend!!! ...You have made it very clear and simple now!!! cant thank you enough!!!!

Matt.