error while initializing int type flexible array in structure in c












1















i am trying to use flexible array for int variable.



Below is my code:



struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
}s2g;

void test(){
s2g.stud_roll = {0};
}

int main(){
test();
return 0;
}


But its not working.



How can fix the problem? what is my error?










share|improve this question

























  • I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

    – Christian Gibbons
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24











  • You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

    – György Gulyás
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24






  • 2





    And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

    – interjay
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:28
















1















i am trying to use flexible array for int variable.



Below is my code:



struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
}s2g;

void test(){
s2g.stud_roll = {0};
}

int main(){
test();
return 0;
}


But its not working.



How can fix the problem? what is my error?










share|improve this question

























  • I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

    – Christian Gibbons
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24











  • You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

    – György Gulyás
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24






  • 2





    And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

    – interjay
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:28














1












1








1








i am trying to use flexible array for int variable.



Below is my code:



struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
}s2g;

void test(){
s2g.stud_roll = {0};
}

int main(){
test();
return 0;
}


But its not working.



How can fix the problem? what is my error?










share|improve this question
















i am trying to use flexible array for int variable.



Below is my code:



struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
}s2g;

void test(){
s2g.stud_roll = {0};
}

int main(){
test();
return 0;
}


But its not working.



How can fix the problem? what is my error?







c






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 13 '18 at 18:22









Christian Gibbons

1,859614




1,859614










asked Nov 13 '18 at 18:20









Eric IpsumEric Ipsum

1901315




1901315













  • I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

    – Christian Gibbons
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24











  • You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

    – György Gulyás
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24






  • 2





    And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

    – interjay
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:28



















  • I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

    – Christian Gibbons
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24











  • You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

    – György Gulyás
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:24






  • 2





    And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

    – interjay
    Nov 13 '18 at 18:28

















I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

– Christian Gibbons
Nov 13 '18 at 18:24





I believe your struct needs to be allocated through malloc and allocate extra space for the struct to hold the length of the flexible array.

– Christian Gibbons
Nov 13 '18 at 18:24













You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

– György Gulyás
Nov 13 '18 at 18:24





You use the compiler time initialization for dynamic sized array. When you want to initialize this array, the you have to allocate memory, and fill them. Sorry, it not that easy

– György Gulyás
Nov 13 '18 at 18:24




2




2





And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

– interjay
Nov 13 '18 at 18:28





And you can't assign arrays, whether they are flexible or not.

– interjay
Nov 13 '18 at 18:28












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3














In order to use your struct with a Flexible Array Member (FAM) you need a pointer to struct, not type struct. The FAM provides the convenience of allowing allocation for the struct and the FAM in a single allocation, rather than needing to allocate for the struct and then for stud_roll separately. For example:



struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
} *s2g; /* note the declaration as a pointer */

void test (void)
{
s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
if (!s2g) {
perror ("malloc-s2g");
exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
}
...


There you allocate storage for both the struct sizeof *s2g plus the element of stud_roll, e.g. ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll. This provides the single allocation/single free.



A short example would be:



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

#define ELEMENTS 10

struct S2 {
int foo;
int bar;
int stud_roll;
} *s2g;

void test (void)
{
s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
if (!s2g) {
perror ("malloc-s2g");
exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
}

s2g->foo = 1;
s2g->bar = 2;

for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
s2g->stud_roll[i] = i + 1;
}

int main (void) {

test();

printf ("s2g->foo: %dns2g->bar: %dn", s2g->foo, s2g->bar);
for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
printf (" %d", s2g->stud_roll[i]);
putchar ('n');
free (s2g);

return 0;
}


(note: since the flexible array member is static, you cannot have an array of struct containing a flexible array member -- but you can have an array of pointers with separate allocation for each)



Example Use/Output



$ ./bin/famtst
s2g->foo: 1
s2g->bar: 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





share|improve this answer


























  • Thanks for this answer.

    – Eric Ipsum
    Nov 13 '18 at 19:18



















1














You need to allocate memory for (struct S2).stud_roll. Without any memory you will write out of bounds. Assimung there is no padding sizeof(struct S2) == sizeof(int) + sizeof(int) - there is no memory allocated for stud_roll cause the member takes no memory "by itself".



s2g.stud_roll = {0};



You can't assign arrays in that way in C.



You can use compound literal to allocate some memory on stack:



#define STUD_ROLL_SIZE  4

struct S2 * const s2g = (void*)((char[sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int)]){ 0 });

void test(void) {
s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
// or
memcpy(s2g->stud_roll, (int){ 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 4 * sizeof(int));
}


or use malloc to dynamically allocate the memory, you need to allocate more memory than the sizeof(struct S2):



struct S2 *s2g = NULL;

void test(void) {
s2g = malloc(sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int));
if (s2g == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, "Abort ship! Abort ship!n");
exit(-1);
}
s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
free(s2g);
}





share|improve this answer























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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3














    In order to use your struct with a Flexible Array Member (FAM) you need a pointer to struct, not type struct. The FAM provides the convenience of allowing allocation for the struct and the FAM in a single allocation, rather than needing to allocate for the struct and then for stud_roll separately. For example:



    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g; /* note the declaration as a pointer */

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    ...


    There you allocate storage for both the struct sizeof *s2g plus the element of stud_roll, e.g. ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll. This provides the single allocation/single free.



    A short example would be:



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

    #define ELEMENTS 10

    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g;

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

    s2g->foo = 1;
    s2g->bar = 2;

    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    s2g->stud_roll[i] = i + 1;
    }

    int main (void) {

    test();

    printf ("s2g->foo: %dns2g->bar: %dn", s2g->foo, s2g->bar);
    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    printf (" %d", s2g->stud_roll[i]);
    putchar ('n');
    free (s2g);

    return 0;
    }


    (note: since the flexible array member is static, you cannot have an array of struct containing a flexible array member -- but you can have an array of pointers with separate allocation for each)



    Example Use/Output



    $ ./bin/famtst
    s2g->foo: 1
    s2g->bar: 2
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





    share|improve this answer


























    • Thanks for this answer.

      – Eric Ipsum
      Nov 13 '18 at 19:18
















    3














    In order to use your struct with a Flexible Array Member (FAM) you need a pointer to struct, not type struct. The FAM provides the convenience of allowing allocation for the struct and the FAM in a single allocation, rather than needing to allocate for the struct and then for stud_roll separately. For example:



    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g; /* note the declaration as a pointer */

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    ...


    There you allocate storage for both the struct sizeof *s2g plus the element of stud_roll, e.g. ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll. This provides the single allocation/single free.



    A short example would be:



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

    #define ELEMENTS 10

    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g;

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

    s2g->foo = 1;
    s2g->bar = 2;

    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    s2g->stud_roll[i] = i + 1;
    }

    int main (void) {

    test();

    printf ("s2g->foo: %dns2g->bar: %dn", s2g->foo, s2g->bar);
    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    printf (" %d", s2g->stud_roll[i]);
    putchar ('n');
    free (s2g);

    return 0;
    }


    (note: since the flexible array member is static, you cannot have an array of struct containing a flexible array member -- but you can have an array of pointers with separate allocation for each)



    Example Use/Output



    $ ./bin/famtst
    s2g->foo: 1
    s2g->bar: 2
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





    share|improve this answer


























    • Thanks for this answer.

      – Eric Ipsum
      Nov 13 '18 at 19:18














    3












    3








    3







    In order to use your struct with a Flexible Array Member (FAM) you need a pointer to struct, not type struct. The FAM provides the convenience of allowing allocation for the struct and the FAM in a single allocation, rather than needing to allocate for the struct and then for stud_roll separately. For example:



    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g; /* note the declaration as a pointer */

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    ...


    There you allocate storage for both the struct sizeof *s2g plus the element of stud_roll, e.g. ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll. This provides the single allocation/single free.



    A short example would be:



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

    #define ELEMENTS 10

    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g;

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

    s2g->foo = 1;
    s2g->bar = 2;

    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    s2g->stud_roll[i] = i + 1;
    }

    int main (void) {

    test();

    printf ("s2g->foo: %dns2g->bar: %dn", s2g->foo, s2g->bar);
    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    printf (" %d", s2g->stud_roll[i]);
    putchar ('n');
    free (s2g);

    return 0;
    }


    (note: since the flexible array member is static, you cannot have an array of struct containing a flexible array member -- but you can have an array of pointers with separate allocation for each)



    Example Use/Output



    $ ./bin/famtst
    s2g->foo: 1
    s2g->bar: 2
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





    share|improve this answer















    In order to use your struct with a Flexible Array Member (FAM) you need a pointer to struct, not type struct. The FAM provides the convenience of allowing allocation for the struct and the FAM in a single allocation, rather than needing to allocate for the struct and then for stud_roll separately. For example:



    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g; /* note the declaration as a pointer */

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    ...


    There you allocate storage for both the struct sizeof *s2g plus the element of stud_roll, e.g. ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll. This provides the single allocation/single free.



    A short example would be:



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

    #define ELEMENTS 10

    struct S2 {
    int foo;
    int bar;
    int stud_roll;
    } *s2g;

    void test (void)
    {
    s2g = malloc (sizeof *s2g + ELEMENTS * sizeof *s2g->stud_roll);
    if (!s2g) {
    perror ("malloc-s2g");
    exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

    s2g->foo = 1;
    s2g->bar = 2;

    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    s2g->stud_roll[i] = i + 1;
    }

    int main (void) {

    test();

    printf ("s2g->foo: %dns2g->bar: %dn", s2g->foo, s2g->bar);
    for (int i = 0; i < ELEMENTS; i++)
    printf (" %d", s2g->stud_roll[i]);
    putchar ('n');
    free (s2g);

    return 0;
    }


    (note: since the flexible array member is static, you cannot have an array of struct containing a flexible array member -- but you can have an array of pointers with separate allocation for each)



    Example Use/Output



    $ ./bin/famtst
    s2g->foo: 1
    s2g->bar: 2
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10






    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Nov 13 '18 at 18:50

























    answered Nov 13 '18 at 18:41









    David C. RankinDavid C. Rankin

    40.8k32648




    40.8k32648













    • Thanks for this answer.

      – Eric Ipsum
      Nov 13 '18 at 19:18



















    • Thanks for this answer.

      – Eric Ipsum
      Nov 13 '18 at 19:18

















    Thanks for this answer.

    – Eric Ipsum
    Nov 13 '18 at 19:18





    Thanks for this answer.

    – Eric Ipsum
    Nov 13 '18 at 19:18













    1














    You need to allocate memory for (struct S2).stud_roll. Without any memory you will write out of bounds. Assimung there is no padding sizeof(struct S2) == sizeof(int) + sizeof(int) - there is no memory allocated for stud_roll cause the member takes no memory "by itself".



    s2g.stud_roll = {0};



    You can't assign arrays in that way in C.



    You can use compound literal to allocate some memory on stack:



    #define STUD_ROLL_SIZE  4

    struct S2 * const s2g = (void*)((char[sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int)]){ 0 });

    void test(void) {
    s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
    // or
    memcpy(s2g->stud_roll, (int){ 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 4 * sizeof(int));
    }


    or use malloc to dynamically allocate the memory, you need to allocate more memory than the sizeof(struct S2):



    struct S2 *s2g = NULL;

    void test(void) {
    s2g = malloc(sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int));
    if (s2g == NULL) {
    fprintf(stderr, "Abort ship! Abort ship!n");
    exit(-1);
    }
    s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
    free(s2g);
    }





    share|improve this answer




























      1














      You need to allocate memory for (struct S2).stud_roll. Without any memory you will write out of bounds. Assimung there is no padding sizeof(struct S2) == sizeof(int) + sizeof(int) - there is no memory allocated for stud_roll cause the member takes no memory "by itself".



      s2g.stud_roll = {0};



      You can't assign arrays in that way in C.



      You can use compound literal to allocate some memory on stack:



      #define STUD_ROLL_SIZE  4

      struct S2 * const s2g = (void*)((char[sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int)]){ 0 });

      void test(void) {
      s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
      // or
      memcpy(s2g->stud_roll, (int){ 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 4 * sizeof(int));
      }


      or use malloc to dynamically allocate the memory, you need to allocate more memory than the sizeof(struct S2):



      struct S2 *s2g = NULL;

      void test(void) {
      s2g = malloc(sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int));
      if (s2g == NULL) {
      fprintf(stderr, "Abort ship! Abort ship!n");
      exit(-1);
      }
      s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
      free(s2g);
      }





      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1







        You need to allocate memory for (struct S2).stud_roll. Without any memory you will write out of bounds. Assimung there is no padding sizeof(struct S2) == sizeof(int) + sizeof(int) - there is no memory allocated for stud_roll cause the member takes no memory "by itself".



        s2g.stud_roll = {0};



        You can't assign arrays in that way in C.



        You can use compound literal to allocate some memory on stack:



        #define STUD_ROLL_SIZE  4

        struct S2 * const s2g = (void*)((char[sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int)]){ 0 });

        void test(void) {
        s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
        // or
        memcpy(s2g->stud_roll, (int){ 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 4 * sizeof(int));
        }


        or use malloc to dynamically allocate the memory, you need to allocate more memory than the sizeof(struct S2):



        struct S2 *s2g = NULL;

        void test(void) {
        s2g = malloc(sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int));
        if (s2g == NULL) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Abort ship! Abort ship!n");
        exit(-1);
        }
        s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
        free(s2g);
        }





        share|improve this answer













        You need to allocate memory for (struct S2).stud_roll. Without any memory you will write out of bounds. Assimung there is no padding sizeof(struct S2) == sizeof(int) + sizeof(int) - there is no memory allocated for stud_roll cause the member takes no memory "by itself".



        s2g.stud_roll = {0};



        You can't assign arrays in that way in C.



        You can use compound literal to allocate some memory on stack:



        #define STUD_ROLL_SIZE  4

        struct S2 * const s2g = (void*)((char[sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int)]){ 0 });

        void test(void) {
        s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
        // or
        memcpy(s2g->stud_roll, (int){ 1, 2, 3, 4 }, 4 * sizeof(int));
        }


        or use malloc to dynamically allocate the memory, you need to allocate more memory than the sizeof(struct S2):



        struct S2 *s2g = NULL;

        void test(void) {
        s2g = malloc(sizeof(struct S2) + STUD_ROLL_SIZE * sizeof(int));
        if (s2g == NULL) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Abort ship! Abort ship!n");
        exit(-1);
        }
        s2g->stud_roll[0] = 1;
        free(s2g);
        }






        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 13 '18 at 18:40









        Kamil CukKamil Cuk

        9,8071527




        9,8071527






























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