Function that reads the file doesn't work. Interactive menu problem - c

Question

Im having some problems making my newly started project to work (also im a beginner).
For some reason option number 4 in my interactive menu doesn't work and just takes a default route (doesn't output whats inside a file (file directory is fine.).
At this point i've read every forum searching for answer but couldn't modify my code in any way that would work.
So I decided to ask you for help.
Here is my code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define kFileLocation "/Users/patrykpiwowarczyk/Desktop/STUDIA/FoCP/Kodowanie/TestProjektSemestralnyAngielski/TestProjektSemestralnyAngielski/authors.txt"
void options();
void start(void);
void score(void);
void optionz(void);
void author(void);
void pexit(void);
int main(void)
{
char ch;
int num;
char option;
while (1) {
printf("****Your English Learning Index Cards****\n\n");
printf("Enter 1-5 of the following options: \n\n");
options();
scanf("%c", &option);
switch (option) {
case '1':
break;
case '2':
break;
case '3':
break;
case '4':
author();
break;
case '5':
pexit();
break;
default:
printf("Please insert number ranging from 1-5 though... No cheating! \n\n");
printf("Press ENTER key to Continue\n");
}
}
return 0;
}
void options()
{
printf("1. Start Game \n");
printf("2. View Scoreboard \n");
printf("3. Options \n");
printf("4. Author \n");
printf("5. Exit \n\n");
}
void author()
{
char c;
FILE *authorsFile;
if ((authorsFile = fopen("/Users/patrykpiwowarczyk/Desktop/STUDIA/FoCP/Kodowanie/TestProjektSemestralnyAngielski/TestProjektSemestralnyAngielski/authors.txt","r")) == NULL)
{
printf("FAILED to read the file, maybe check directory?\n");
exit(1);
}
while ((c = fgetc(authorsFile)) != EOF)
{
printf("%c", c);
}
fclose(authorsFile);
}
void pexit()
{
puts("Your progress has been saved, see you next time.");
exit(0);
}
if you could help me in any way I would appreciate it soo much..
Greetings, Patryk Piwowarczyk.
PS: the #define kFileLocation is a leftover from my other tries. Omit it.

Answer 1

Based on your comments, I conclude the following:
The problem was that scanf correctly wrote the digit into the variable option the first time it was called. However, the second time scanf was called, it immediately returned the newline character from the previous menu selection, instead of waiting for the user to enter another digit. Whenever scanf returned a newline, the default case was triggered.
Therefore, the problem can be best solved by changing the scanf call to the following:
scanf(" %c", &option);
By adding a space to the start of the format string, you instruct scanf to discard all whitespace characters before reading the character. That way, you can insure that a newline will never be written into the option variable.
The problem of scanf reading newline characters instead of discarding them has been discussed in more detail in this question.