Pointer with Multi-dimensional Array

Hi, all I am having a trouble with pointer and multi-dimensional array.
I wrote the same thing but I see different output. below is the code

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>

void printarray_1 (int (*ptr)[4]);
void printarray_2 (int (*ptr)[4], int n);

int main(void)
{
        int multi[3][4] = {
                {1,2,3,4},
                {5,6,7,8},
                {9,10,11,12}
        };
        /* ptr is a pointer to an array of 4 ints. */
        int (*ptr)[4];
        int *p;
        int count = 0;

        /* set ptr to the first element of multi */
        ptr = multi;

        /* with each loop, ptr is incremented to point to the nex */
        /* element (that is, the next 4 element integer array) of multi. */
        for ( count=0; count < 3; count++ )
        {
                printarray_1(ptr++);
        }

        puts("\n\nPress Enter...");
        getchar();

        printarray_2(multi, 3);
        printf("\n");
       
        puts("\n\nPress Enter...again");
        getchar();
       
        printf("\n\n");
       
        /*
        from here it print out something crazy as you can see the output below.
        */
        p = (int *) ptr;
       
        for (count = 0; count < (4*3); count++)
        {
                printf("\n%d", *p++);
        }
       
        printf("\n\n");
        return 0;
}
void printarray_1 (int (*ptr)[4])
{
        /* Prints the elements of a single four-element integer array. */
        /* p is a pointer to type int. You must use a type cast */
        /* to make p equal to the address in ptr. */
        int *p, count;
        p =  (int *) ptr;

        for ( count=0; count<4; count++ )
                printf("%d\n", *p++);
}

void printarray_2 (int (*ptr)[4], int n)
{
        int *p, count;
        p = (int *) ptr;
       
        for (count = 0; count < (4*n); count++)
        {
                printf("\n%d", *p++);
        }

}

---

Here is the out put

Code:

---

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12



Press Enter...again


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12


-858993460
1245112
4267446
1
3493392
3486624
2018114650
1028656064
29897040
2147348480
3579545
0

Press any key to continue . . .

---

When you assign p an address here:

Code:

---

p = (int *) ptr;

---

what does ptr point to?

Todd

You increment ptr here:

Code:

---

>        for ( count=0; count < 3; count++ )
>        {
>                printarray_1(ptr++);
>        }

---

So after the above loop ptr points past the end of the array. So you could reset it back to the beginning of the array:

Code:

---

        ptr = multi;

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swoopy

You increment ptr here:

Code:

---

>        for ( count=0; count < 3; count++ )
>        {
>                printarray_1(ptr++);
>        }

---

So after the above loop ptr points past the end of the array. So you could reset it back to the beginning of the array:

Code:

---

        ptr = multi;

---

---

I will try this,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Todd Burch

When you assign p an address here:

Code:

---

p = (int *) ptr;

---

what does ptr point to?

Todd

---

Since ptr is an integer pointer for array, and p is just a pointer to a normal integer value, thus in theory, we need to cast the value to integer before assigning the value.

Sorry, I wasn't asking a question for my edification. I was posing the question to you, so you could study your code, and realize that ptr was not pointing to where you intended.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swoopy

You increment ptr here:

Code:

---

>        for ( count=0; count < 3; count++ )
>        {
>                printarray_1(ptr++);
>        }

---

So after the above loop ptr points past the end of the array. So you could reset it back to the beginning of the array:

Code:

---

        ptr = multi;

---

---

Yes, you are right, I made the changes as you told, and it works.
However, I am not quite sure, why we need to reset it. because when we pass the pointer to the functions, in the functions, I did not reset it. and it works, but in main program, i have to reset it!!!!!!

>because when we pass the pointer to the functions, in the functions, I did not reset it. and it works
In both printarray_1 and printarray_2, you increment p, but not ptr (the passed pointer). But having said that, if you did increment ptr, this would not be seen back in main(), because in C, all parameters to functions are passed by value.