Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. General Programming
  3. C / C++ / MFC
  4. stuck with a trivia

stuck with a trivia

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved C / C++ / MFC
helpquestion
21 Posts 5 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • S Stuart Dootson

    py2 is an int *, not an int **. Extra dimensions of arrays DO NOT imply extra indirection (i.e. extra levels of pointer). Therefore your C cast when assigning py2 to pyp2 is breaking the type safety that's trying to tell you what your mistake is.

    S Offline
    S Offline
    Smith
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    argh okay. accepted. is there way I can do it? I think it can be done by allocating a memory of that dimension dynamically and assigning the pointers one by one.bullshit. I meant assigning the pointers.

    :beer:

    modified on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 4:02 AM

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • _ _Superman_

      py2 is an address. The contents of py2 are 0, 1, 2, 3. Agreed ? pyp2 is a pointer to a pointer. pyp2 is initialized with the address of py2. Now when you say *pyp2 it is taking the first value of 0 which it thinks is another address. So, **pyp2 is trying to read the value at address 0. // Crash If the contents of py2 were 5, 6, 7, 8, **pyp2 will be trying to read the value at address 5. // Still Crash.

      «_Superman_»

      S Offline
      S Offline
      Smith
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      So, **pyp2 is trying to read the value at address 0. // Crash Why should it crash? *pyp2 = first row. **pyp2 = first element of the first row. What's wrong with it?

      :beer:

      _ 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • S Smith

        So, **pyp2 is trying to read the value at address 0. // Crash Why should it crash? *pyp2 = first row. **pyp2 = first element of the first row. What's wrong with it?

        :beer:

        _ Offline
        _ Offline
        _Superman_
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        Smith# wrote:

        *pyp2 = first row. **pyp2 = first element of the first row.

        Wrong. I have tried to explain it in my previous post.

        «_Superman_»

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • _ _Superman_

          Smith# wrote:

          *pyp2 = first row. **pyp2 = first element of the first row.

          Wrong. I have tried to explain it in my previous post.

          «_Superman_»

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Smith
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          Now when you say *pyp2 it is taking the first value of 0 which it thinks is another address. Yes. that's the address of the first pointer. I called it as 1st row. With **pyp2, I try to access the first element. in other words, *pyp2[0]. I agree that you cannot ask it go to the next pointer since it doen't know where first one ends. But what's the problem to access the "first-most" element? We have the address, what's the problem with taking it's address? Am I still missing something?

          :beer:

          _ 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • S Smith

            Now when you say *pyp2 it is taking the first value of 0 which it thinks is another address. Yes. that's the address of the first pointer. I called it as 1st row. With **pyp2, I try to access the first element. in other words, *pyp2[0]. I agree that you cannot ask it go to the next pointer since it doen't know where first one ends. But what's the problem to access the "first-most" element? We have the address, what's the problem with taking it's address? Am I still missing something?

            :beer:

            _ Offline
            _ Offline
            _Superman_
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            To access the first element you simply do *pyp2. Try it.

            «_Superman_»

            S 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • _ _Superman_

              To access the first element you simply do *pyp2. Try it.

              «_Superman_»

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Smith
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              That will give me the address of the first element. Not the value.

              :beer:

              _ 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • S Smith

                argh okay. accepted. is there way I can do it? I think it can be done by allocating a memory of that dimension dynamically and assigning the pointers one by one.bullshit. I meant assigning the pointers.

                :beer:

                modified on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 4:02 AM

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Stuart Dootson
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                Try initialising pyp2 like this:

                int p1[2] = { 1, 2 };
                int p2[2] = { 1, 2 };
                int* pyp2[2] = { p1, p2 };

                pyp2 is of type (int*)[2], which is equivalent to int **.

                S 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • S Smith

                  That will give me the address of the first element. Not the value.

                  :beer:

                  _ Offline
                  _ Offline
                  _Superman_
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  It is giving me the value. Try to understand that this is exactly why your code is crashing.

                  «_Superman_»

                  S 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Stuart Dootson

                    Try initialising pyp2 like this:

                    int p1[2] = { 1, 2 };
                    int p2[2] = { 1, 2 };
                    int* pyp2[2] = { p1, p2 };

                    pyp2 is of type (int*)[2], which is equivalent to int **.

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Smith
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    hmm, so we cannot simply take a pointer and navigate through.. :sigh: .. the complier wants it to be informed about these..

                    :beer:

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • S Stuart Dootson

                      Try initialising pyp2 like this:

                      int p1[2] = { 1, 2 };
                      int p2[2] = { 1, 2 };
                      int* pyp2[2] = { p1, p2 };

                      pyp2 is of type (int*)[2], which is equivalent to int **.

                      S Offline
                      S Offline
                      Smith
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      I think I just ripped through mr.Smith tried this : int py2[2][2] = {10,11,12,13}; int* sptr = &py2[0][0]; int** dptr = &sptr; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr); *dptr+=1; *dptr+=2; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr); o/p:10,13 -Anderson. :cool:.

                      :beer:

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • _ _Superman_

                        It is giving me the value. Try to understand that this is exactly why your code is crashing.

                        «_Superman_»

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Smith
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        Are you using VC6.0 Advanced Auto-Deferencing Compiler ? lol just kidding.

                        :beer:

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • S Smith

                          //Works int py[5] = {0,1,2,3,4}; int* pyp = (int*)py;//py printf("%d",pyp[2]); //Doesn't. show "2Dpointer\n"; int py2[2][2] = {0,1,2,3}; int **pyp2 = (int**)py2; printf("py2:%d",py2); printf("pyp2:%d",pyp2); printf("**pyp2[0][0]",pyp2[0][0]);//Crash printf("**pyp2%d",**pyp2);//Crash `why? :beer: `

                          E Offline
                          E Offline
                          Emilio Garavaglia
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          The key point is that arrays and pointers are NOT the same. An array can be converted into a pointer and pointer arithmetic (and indexing) looks the same as array subscripting, but they aren't. They coincide only for linear indexing (that's the case of monodimensional arrays) int **pyp2 is a "[pointer to a [pointer to [an int]]]" The memory layout it expects is like

                          int** ----> [int*, int*, int*, ...]
                          | | |
                          | | |
                          | | V
                          | V [int,int,...]
                          V [int,int,int...]
                          [int, int, ...]

                          While int py2[2][2] is an "[array of [array of [int]]]" The memory layout it expects is like

                          [[int,int],[int,int]]

                          That's completely different.

                          2 bugs found. > recompile ... 65534 bugs found. :doh:

                          S 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • E Emilio Garavaglia

                            The key point is that arrays and pointers are NOT the same. An array can be converted into a pointer and pointer arithmetic (and indexing) looks the same as array subscripting, but they aren't. They coincide only for linear indexing (that's the case of monodimensional arrays) int **pyp2 is a "[pointer to a [pointer to [an int]]]" The memory layout it expects is like

                            int** ----> [int*, int*, int*, ...]
                            | | |
                            | | |
                            | | V
                            | V [int,int,...]
                            V [int,int,int...]
                            [int, int, ...]

                            While int py2[2][2] is an "[array of [array of [int]]]" The memory layout it expects is like

                            [[int,int],[int,int]]

                            That's completely different.

                            2 bugs found. > recompile ... 65534 bugs found. :doh:

                            S Offline
                            S Offline
                            Smith
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            As you know pointers & arrays both move consecutive. Then how come it be totally different? To some extent I can agree. Because the next pointer in the **ptr can be made to point to some other *p pointing somewhere. But here that's not the case.. it's array, quite consecutive and we are making our **ptr point to it. What do you think about the below approach ? getting the address of the first row pointer & getting the address of it and then deferencing. int py2[2][2] = {10,11,12,13}; int* sptr = &py2[0][0]; int** dptr = &sptr; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr); *dptr+=1; *dptr+=2; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr);

                            :beer:

                            E 2 Replies Last reply
                            0
                            • S Smith

                              As you know pointers & arrays both move consecutive. Then how come it be totally different? To some extent I can agree. Because the next pointer in the **ptr can be made to point to some other *p pointing somewhere. But here that's not the case.. it's array, quite consecutive and we are making our **ptr point to it. What do you think about the below approach ? getting the address of the first row pointer & getting the address of it and then deferencing. int py2[2][2] = {10,11,12,13}; int* sptr = &py2[0][0]; int** dptr = &sptr; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr); *dptr+=1; *dptr+=2; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr);

                              :beer:

                              E Offline
                              E Offline
                              Emilio Garavaglia
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              It seems you're confusing two well distinct concepts (don't worry: it takes about three years to me to get away from that confusion...). Let's reconsider your points:

                              Smith# wrote:

                              As you know pointers & arrays both move consecutive

                              No. Pointers "move" (in th sense they can receive another address as their own stored value). Array just "are". Array indexes "move" (in the sense they can be used to indicate other array cells).

                              Smith# wrote:

                              how come it be totally different

                              Because they ARE totally different. They simple have a "similar" external interface (same operators).If you don't get this point may be I was not able to explain the first point, but until you don't get it you cannot move away from your trivia. So loop over and over until you get it, find other sources than me (if you find my way to explain is not clear) but there is no way to move over until this crucial point is clear.

                              Smith# wrote:

                              Because the next pointer in the **ptr can be made to point to some other *p pointing somewhere. But here that's not the case.. it's array,

                              You know, but compiler doesn't. int** for the compiler is just 4 bytes of memory containing the address of an int* that is another 4 byte of memory, somewhere else, containing the address of an int. Whatever you think about this is irrelevant to the compiler. int[] is a consecutive bounce of integers at some place in memory. This place has an address. When you do

                              int a[2] = { 0,1 };
                              int* pa = a;

                              you assign the address of the array head to the pointer. When you do

                              *pa = 5;

                              the compiler assign 5 to the memory whose address is stored in "pa". This accidentally is a[0] (but it is not something the compiler is aware of). When you do

                              pa[1] = 6;

                              the compiler assign 6 to the memory whose address is given by pa+1*sizeof(int), that accidentally is a[1] (again you know, not the compiler: there is nothing in "pa" that makes the compiler aware of the fact that it is NOW pointing to an array and sometime later on to an individual integer and some later on to an integer inside a class or struct. The design of the [] operator appllied to poitner or to array makes this operation giving a same result just because for monidimensional array, the same calculation is done. Bidimensional arra

                              S 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • S Smith

                                As you know pointers & arrays both move consecutive. Then how come it be totally different? To some extent I can agree. Because the next pointer in the **ptr can be made to point to some other *p pointing somewhere. But here that's not the case.. it's array, quite consecutive and we are making our **ptr point to it. What do you think about the below approach ? getting the address of the first row pointer & getting the address of it and then deferencing. int py2[2][2] = {10,11,12,13}; int* sptr = &py2[0][0]; int** dptr = &sptr; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr); *dptr+=1; *dptr+=2; printf("\nAtlast:%d\n",**dptr);

                                :beer:

                                E Offline
                                E Offline
                                Emilio Garavaglia
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                Now, let's move a little bit on: If you agree with my previous post, consider this:

                                int a [2][2] = { 1,2,3,4 };
                                int[2]* ppa = a;

                                Do you get it? Instead of int**, I use int[2]*: a "pointer to an array of two integers". considering the int[][] as "array of 2 arrays of two integers". The type of int** is int* (that doesn't exist in memory since we store arrays), but the value of int[2]* is int[2] that's just one row of the matrix ( in our case {{1,2},{3,4}} Now ppa[1][1] is "take the address stored in ppa, add 1*sizeof(int[2]). This is the int[2] representing the second row. Now we're anymore dealing with a pointer, but with an array, whose cell "1" has the value "4".

                                2 bugs found. > recompile ... 65534 bugs found. :doh:

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • E Emilio Garavaglia

                                  It seems you're confusing two well distinct concepts (don't worry: it takes about three years to me to get away from that confusion...). Let's reconsider your points:

                                  Smith# wrote:

                                  As you know pointers & arrays both move consecutive

                                  No. Pointers "move" (in th sense they can receive another address as their own stored value). Array just "are". Array indexes "move" (in the sense they can be used to indicate other array cells).

                                  Smith# wrote:

                                  how come it be totally different

                                  Because they ARE totally different. They simple have a "similar" external interface (same operators).If you don't get this point may be I was not able to explain the first point, but until you don't get it you cannot move away from your trivia. So loop over and over until you get it, find other sources than me (if you find my way to explain is not clear) but there is no way to move over until this crucial point is clear.

                                  Smith# wrote:

                                  Because the next pointer in the **ptr can be made to point to some other *p pointing somewhere. But here that's not the case.. it's array,

                                  You know, but compiler doesn't. int** for the compiler is just 4 bytes of memory containing the address of an int* that is another 4 byte of memory, somewhere else, containing the address of an int. Whatever you think about this is irrelevant to the compiler. int[] is a consecutive bounce of integers at some place in memory. This place has an address. When you do

                                  int a[2] = { 0,1 };
                                  int* pa = a;

                                  you assign the address of the array head to the pointer. When you do

                                  *pa = 5;

                                  the compiler assign 5 to the memory whose address is stored in "pa". This accidentally is a[0] (but it is not something the compiler is aware of). When you do

                                  pa[1] = 6;

                                  the compiler assign 6 to the memory whose address is given by pa+1*sizeof(int), that accidentally is a[1] (again you know, not the compiler: there is nothing in "pa" that makes the compiler aware of the fact that it is NOW pointing to an array and sometime later on to an individual integer and some later on to an integer inside a class or struct. The design of the [] operator appllied to poitner or to array makes this operation giving a same result just because for monidimensional array, the same calculation is done. Bidimensional arra

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  Smith
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  Hey Sorry man, I'm just checking your reply. Before even reading it I felt I should thank you for your helping effort. I'll read it, and if I find it reasonable, I'll give up the weapons & surrender :). Anyway thanks a lot.

                                  :beer:

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  Reply
                                  • Reply as topic
                                  Log in to reply
                                  • Oldest to Newest
                                  • Newest to Oldest
                                  • Most Votes


                                  • Login

                                  • Don't have an account? Register

                                  • Login or register to search.
                                  • First post
                                    Last post
                                  0
                                  • Categories
                                  • Recent
                                  • Tags
                                  • Popular
                                  • World
                                  • Users
                                  • Groups