problem with assigning a string value to a char variable

Hey there! I am having a problem again but this time, just I am not so sure with the string in C.

Why cant I do something like this below chunk of code???

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
char myName[100];

myName="This is my real name"; // error might be here!!!,

return 0;
}

---

My Visual Studio 2005 compiler never compile such code, it only returns some kind of error like this:

Code:

---

left operand must be l-value

---

Because it's considered illegal.

Here are two options:

Code:

---

char myName[100] = "This is my real name";

---

Code:

---

char myName[100];
...
strcpy(myName, "This is my real name");

---

So it means i have to use de strcpy when i want assign any value to a variable of type char? Or is there any other easier way?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whichet

So it means i have to use de strcpy when i want assign any value to a variable of type char? Or is there any other easier way?

---

You seems to be confused with what a variable of type char is.

Code:

---

char character;

---

That's a variable of type char. It can hold only one character; something like 'A'
When you do this

Code:

---

char myName[100] = "This is my real name";

---

You are trying to get 'T', 'h', 'i', 's', ' ', 'i', etc..., into myName[0], myName[1], myName[2], etc...
However the compiler does not know which variable char corresponds to which myName[].
So strcpy basically makes that possible by assigning the following:

Code:

---

myName[0] = 'T';
myName[1] = 'h';
myName[2] = 'i';
myName[3] = 's';
.
.
.
etc.

---

I hope you understand better now.
There's not such a thing as string variable in C. Strings are made of a sequence of variables of type char.

Thanks for givin the explanation. I got that. But when i start to learn about pointer and string, i get confused! I have been tryin to read more about it now. Maybe you can suggest to me a good reference website.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whichet

Thanks for givin the explanation. I got that. But when i start to learn about pointer and string, i get confused! I have been tryin to read more about it now. Maybe you can suggest to me a good reference website.

---

There is a tutorial on this website. That together with writing your own code, and asking questions, will get you there.

--
Mats

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whichet

Maybe you can suggest to me a good reference website.

---

This pointers explanation seems to be easy to grasp.

I don't know about strcpy_s if it's a Microsoft-only or non-portable? Otherwise it's preferred to use it since strcpy is also deprecated in VC++ 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strcpy#strcpy_s

So, in other words, it may not be cross-compatible, but it isn't Microsoft-only.