Loading files with a function call

I don't know what call the subject, but I have another question, a more basic one. I have a function that loads files into memory (BMPs and later TGAs), but need to have some parts as dynamic, based on parameters in a function.

Code:

---

char LoadFile(char FileName[64]) // accepts a string as a parameter
{
        char BasePath[128]; // the base path, that of which started from
        char FullFileName[192]; // the full path combining the base path and the parameter
       
        strcpy(BasePath, "C:\\My Documents\\My programs\\"); // get the obvious base path first
        sprintf(FullFileName, "%s%s", BasePath, FileName); // combine the base path and file name
        FileHandle = fopen(FullFileName, "rb"); // read the source file to display, binary mode
       
        if (FileHandle == 0) // if the file can't be found
        {
                return 1; // indicates an error occurred
        }
       
        fseek(FileHandle, 14, SEEK_SET); // skip the basic file header data but read from the info header
        fread(&BMPHead.biSize, 4, 1, FileHandle); // bytes 0E through 11
        fread(&BMPHead.biWidth, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 12 through 15
        fread(&BMPHead.biHeight, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 16 through 19
        fread(&BMPHead.biPlanes, 2, 1, FileHandle); // 1A and 1B
        fread(&BMPHead.biBitCount, 2, 1, FileHandle); // 1C and 1D
        fread(&BMPHead.biCompression, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 1E through 21
        fread(&BMPHead.biSizeImage, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 22 through 25
        fread(&BMPHead.biXPelsPerMeter, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 26 through 29
        fread(&BMPHead.biYPelsPerMeter, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 2A through 2D
        fread(&BMPHead.biClrUsed, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 2E through 31
        fread(&BMPHead.biClrImportant, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 32 through 35
        fread(&TestImageData, 1, BMPHead.biSizeImage, FileHandle); // read the main image data // bytes 36 and onward
        fclose(FileHandle); // close the file releasing the handle
        return 0; // function succeeded
}

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The function works as I tested it, but what my problem is is with the "BMPHead" and "TestImageData" elements. What do I do to have parameters for this function to be able to set these. I call the function like this:

if (LoadFile("mytestimage.bmp")) {// message box for showing load error}

If I had these particular pointers, structs, or whatever they are involved, I'd have the function called like this:

if (LoadFile("mytestimage.bmp", BMPHead, TestImageData) {// message box}

What changes do I need to make to get it to work like this? I know how to get the message box so I don't need any assistance with that.

Depends on how they're declared globally.

Code:

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char LoadFile(char FileName[64], struct foo *BMPHead, struct bar TestImageData)

---

Something like that maybe.

BMPHead is indeed a struct, but TestImageData is an array (would make it a linked list, but don't know how). They are defined like this:

BITMAPINFOHEADER BMPHead;
char TestImageData[589824];

Well there you go then. Just move those declarations into the function parameter list.

What use is there in doing that? Loading the same file 60 times a second is not only very bad for games, but senseless in general, especially when there'll be dozens of files. Would you load 720 files per second for just 12 files? I highly doubt it. My hard drive would barely be able to keep up with that for 128x128 32-bit images (45 MiB per second).

By having a function call where I set the values as needed, it's easier to work with otherwise I'd have to repeat the code dozens of times and it would just get messy, very messy.

Edit: When calling the function, the file is first loaded into the bitmapinfoheader struct and is filled out. The parameter I use in the function is what struct for this is used and stored so DrawDibDraw can later display the contents. The image data is then loaded into an array (linked list if I knew how). Each image loaded points to a different bitmapinfoheader struct and a different array. I would like it so that I can merely call a function and set these parameters in the function call. This makes it easier (and much cleaner-looking) to load dozens images and keep them in memory.

Why would you load the same file multiple times? I'm suggesting changing something like:

Code:

---

struct foo bar;
int some_global_var;

void load_files(char *filename)
{
  // read stuff into global struct and int
}

int main(void)
{
  load_files("blee.bmp");
  return 0;
}

---

...to something like this:

Code:

---

void load_files(char *filename, struct foo bar, int var)
{
  // read stuff info local struct and int
}

int main(void)
{
  struct foo bar;
  int var;

  load_files("blee.bmp", bar, var);
  return 0;
}

---

See the difference?

Edit: Okay, so I had the wrong pointer type in the struct. I forgot it's ->. I also had "BMPdata" instead of "BMPData" which, strangely enough, messed things up (must be case sensitive). Now I'm getting an "unhandled exception" error and it asks me if I want to look at the disassembly. I look at it but have no idea what any of that is. What is causing this to happen?

Code:

---

char LoadFile(char FileName[64], BITMAPINFOHEADER *BMPInfo, char *BMPData) // accepts a string as a parameter
{
        char BasePath[128]; // the base path, that of which started from
        char FullFileName[192]; // the full path combining the base path and the parameter
       
        strcpy(BasePath, "C:\\My Documents\\My programs\\"); // get the obvious base path first
        sprintf(FullFileName, "%s%s", BasePath, FileName); // combine the base path and file name
        FileHandle = fopen(FullFileName, "rb"); // read the source file to display, binary mode
       
        if (FileHandle == 0) // if the file can't be found
        {
                return 1; // indicates an error occurred
        }
       
        fseek(FileHandle, 14, SEEK_SET); // skip the basic file header data but read from the info header
        fread(&BMPInfo->biSize, 4, 1, FileHandle); // bytes 0E through 11
        fread(&BMPInfo->biWidth, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 12 through 15
        fread(&BMPInfo->biHeight, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 16 through 19
        fread(&BMPInfo->biPlanes, 2, 1, FileHandle); // 1A and 1B
        fread(&BMPInfo->biBitCount, 2, 1, FileHandle); // 1C and 1D
        fread(&BMPInfo->biCompression, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 1E through 21
        fread(&BMPInfo->biSizeImage, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 22 through 25
        fread(&BMPInfo->biXPelsPerMeter, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 26 through 29
        fread(&BMPInfo->biYPelsPerMeter, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 2A through 2D
        fread(&BMPInfo->biClrUsed, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 2E through 31
        fread(&BMPInfo->biClrImportant, 4, 1, FileHandle); // 32 through 35
        fread(BMPData, 1, BMPInfo->biSizeImage, FileHandle); // read the main image data // bytes 36 and onward
        fclose(FileHandle); // close the file releasing the handle
       
        return 0;
}

LoadFile("ulillilliacity.bmp", &BMPHead, &TestImageData); // function called

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Edit: Never mind, I fixed the problem in full. I had "&BMPData" instead of "BMPData". I seem to need more practice with pointers....