how to make a function return a pointer

look, i know im a noob and i shouldnt be playing around with images yet, but anyway im trying to put a piece of code which loads a bitmap into a function which returns the pointer to an array of bytes which represents the bitmap.

Code:

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#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <windows.h>


int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    BYTE *lpBits;
    lpBits = loadPicture();
    int i;
    for(i = 0; i < 160; i = i + 4) {
            printf("%d %d %d %d \n", *(lpBits + i), *(lpBits + i + 1), *(lpBits + i + 2), *(lpBits + i + 3));       
    }
   
   

    system("PAUSE");       
    return 0;
}

unsigned int loadPicture()
{
        HANDLE hBitMap = LoadImage(0, "img.bmp", IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_LOADFROMFILE);
   
        BITMAP bitmap;
        GetObject(hBitMap,sizeof(BITMAP),&bitmap);
        int size = bitmap.bmHeight*bitmap.bmWidth*bitmap.bmBitsPixel/8;
       
        printf("%d %d %d %d \n", bitmap.bmHeight, bitmap.bmWidth, bitmap.bmBitsPixel, size);
   
        BYTE *lpBits = malloc(size);
       
       
        GetBitmapBits((HBITMAP)hBitMap,size,lpBits );
        return lpBits;
}

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i basically dont know what the function should return. A pointer is really just an unsigned int, so i tried that and it didnt work. I couldnt really find any examples lying around either. If ive screwed something else up or theres a better way to do something let me know as well, i am just starting at this.

Code:

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//this function prototype returns a pointer of type BYTE
BYTE* function(int input);

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by *DEAD*

look, i know im a noob and i shouldnt be playing around with images yet

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Playing around is a great way to learn.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by *DEAD*

i basically dont know what the function should return.

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It looks like you're trying to return lpBits:

Code:

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    return lpBits;

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...and you already know what it is:

Code:

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  BYTE *lpBits = malloc(size);

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...so, should loadPicture() be returning an unsigned int, or a BYTE pointer?

Disclaimer: I didn't check any of your code for accuracy. The lack of criticism should in no way be considered an endorsement. :D

Also, Wraithan provides much faster answers than I do ;)

wholy crap that was fast. Anyway, im still getting errors.

10 C:\Dev-Cpp\Blobber\mainBack.c [Warning] assignment makes pointer from integer without a cast
22 C:\Dev-Cpp\Blobber\mainBack.c conflicting types for 'loadPicture'
10 C:\Dev-Cpp\Blobber\mainBack.c previous implicit declaration of 'loadPicture' was here

ill go through it from my point of view and maybe that will make my mistake obvious;

BYTE *lpBits;
lpBits = loadPicture();

lpBits is declared as a pointer which points to a BYTE
the location which lpBits points to is set equal to the location of the array of BYTE which was created in loadPicture()

as for the implicit declaration of 'loadPicture' was here, im not entire sure what that means.

Code:

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10 C:\Dev-Cpp\Blobber\mainBack.c previous implicit declaration of 'loadPicture' was here

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You should have your prototype declared first

Code:

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BYTE * loadpicture(void)

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and dont use system("PAUSE");

use getchar which is standard fucnction to just hold on the console window till u hit key.

ssharish2005

haha ive been playing around with too much python. I had the function declared after the call. Thanks fall all the help guys. Everything is working