c; converting 2 bytes to short and vice versa - c

Question

I want to convert array of bytes bytes1 (little endian), 2 by 2, into an array of short integers, and vice versa . I expect to get final array bytes2, equal to initial array bytes1. I have code like this:
int i = 0;
int j = 0;
char *bytes1;
char *bytes2;
short *short_ints;
bytes1 = (char *) malloc( 2048 );
bytes2 = (char *) malloc( 2048 );
short_ints = (short *) malloc( 2048 );
for ( i=0; i<2048; i+=2)
{
short_ints[j] = bytes1[i+1] << 8 | bytes1[i] ;
j++;
}
j = 0;
for ( i=0; i<2048; i+=2)
{
bytes2[i+1] = (short_ints[j] >> 8) & 0xff;
bytes2[i] = (short_ints[j]) ;
j++;
}
j = 0;
Now, can someone tell me why I haven't got bytes2 array, completely the same as bytes1 ? And how to do this properly?

Answer 1

Suggest 2 functions. Do all combining and extraction as unsigned to remove issues with the sign bit in short and maybe char.
The sign bit is OP's code biggest problem. short_ints[j] = bytes1[i+1] << 8 | bytes1[i] ; likely does a sign extend with bytes1[i] conversion to int.
Also (short_ints[j] >> 8) does a sign extend.
// Combine every 2 char (little endian) into 1 short
void charpair_short(short *dest, const char *src, size_t n) {
const unsigned char *usrc = (const unsigned char *) src;
unsigned short *udest = (unsigned short *) dest;
if (n % 2) Handle_OddError();
n /= 2;
while (n-- > 0) {
*udest = *usrc++;
*udest += *usrc++ * 256u;
udest++;
}
}
// Break every short into 2 char (little endian)
void short_charpair(char *dest, const short *src, size_t n) {
const unsigned short *usrc = (const unsigned short *) src;
unsigned char *udest = (unsigned char *) dest;
if (n % 2) Handle_OddError();
n /= 2;
while (n-- > 0) {
*udest++ = (unsigned char) (*usrc);
*udest++ = (unsigned char) (*usrc / 256u);
usrc++;
}
}
int main(void) {
size_t n = 2048; // size_t rather than int has advantages for array index
// Suggest code style: type *var = malloc(sizeof(*var) * N);
// No casting of return
// Use sizeof() with target pointer name rather than target type.
char *bytes1 = malloc(sizeof * bytes1 * n);
Initialize(bytes, n); //TBD code for OP-best to not work w/uninitialized data
// short_ints = (short *) malloc( 2048 );
// This is weak as `sizeof(short)!=2` is possible
short *short_ints = malloc(sizeof * short_ints * n/2);
charpair_short(short_ints, bytes1, n);
char *bytes2 = malloc(sizeof * bytes2 * n);
short_charpair(bytes2, short_ints, n);
compare(bytes1, bytes2, n); // TBD code for OP
// epilogue
free(bytes1);
free(short_ints);
free(bytes2);
return 0;
}
Avoided the union approach as that is platform endian dependent.

Answer 2

Here's a program that demonstrates that you are experiencing the problem associated with bit-shifting signed integral values.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
void testCore(char bytes1[],
char bytes2[],
short short_ints[],
int size)
{
int i = 0;
int j = 0;
for ( i=0; i<size; i+=2)
{
short_ints[j] = bytes1[i+1] << 8 | bytes1[i] ;
j++;
}
j = 0;
for ( i=0; i<size; i+=2)
{
bytes2[i+1] = (short_ints[j] >> 8) & 0xff;
bytes2[i] = (short_ints[j]) ;
j++;
}
for ( i=0; i<size; ++i)
{
if ( bytes1[i] != bytes2[i] )
{
printf("%d-th element is not equal\n", i);
}
}
}
void test1()
{
char bytes1[4] = {-10, 0, 0, 0};
char bytes2[4];
short short_ints[2];
testCore(bytes1, bytes2, short_ints, 4);
}
void test2()
{
char bytes1[4] = {10, 0, 0, 0};
char bytes2[4];
short short_ints[2];
testCore(bytes1, bytes2, short_ints, 4);
}
int main()
{
printf("Calling test1 ...\n");
test1();
printf("Done\n");
printf("Calling test2 ...\n");
test2();
printf("Done\n");
return 0;
}
Output of the program:
Calling test1 ...
1-th element is not equal
Done
Calling test2 ...
Done
Udate
Here's a version of testCore that works for me:
void testCore(char bytes1[],
char bytes2[],
short short_ints[],
int size)
{
int i = 0;
int j = 0;
unsigned char c1;
unsigned char c2;
unsigned short s;
for ( i=0; i<size; i+=2)
{
c1 = bytes1[i];
c2 = bytes1[i+1];
short_ints[j] = (c2 << 8) | c1;
j++;
}
j = 0;
for ( i=0; i<size; i+=2)
{
s = short_ints[j];
s = s >> 8;
bytes2[i+1] = s;
bytes2[i] = short_ints[j] & 0xff;
j++;
}
for ( i=0; i<size; ++i)
{
if ( bytes1[i] != bytes2[i] )
{
printf("%d-th element is not equal\n", i);
}
}
}
It is tested with:
char bytes1[4] = {-10, 0, 25, -4};
and
char bytes1[4] = {10, -2, 25, 4};

Answer 3

Well, what you need is a UNION:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
union MyShort {
short short_value;
struct {
char byte1;
char byte2;
};
};
int main(int argc, const char * argv[])
{
char a[4]="abcd";
char b[4]="1234";
short c[5]; c[4]=0;
union MyShort d;
for (int i = 0; i<4; i++) {
d.byte1 = a[i];
d.byte2 = b[i];
c[i] = d.short_value;
}//next i
printf("%s\n", (char*)c);
return 0;
}
the result should be a1b2c3d4.