Filling dynamic array of structs in C - c

I allocate array of struct in function, but cannot fill those structures with values in same function.
#include<sys/sem.h>
void setSemaphores(int N, struct sembuf **wait){
*wait = malloc(N * sizeof(struct sembuf));
wait[3]->sem_op = 99; //causes error: Segmentation fault (core dumped)
}
int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
int N = 4;
struct sembuf *wait;
setSemaphores(N, &wait);
wait[3].sem_op = 99; //works fine
return 0;
}

In setSemaphores():
wait is a pointer to one variable of type struct sembuf, not to an array of them.
Thus, wait[3] is UB. What you wanted is (*wait)[3].sem_op.
Another tip:
Change *wait = malloc(N * sizeof(struct sembuf));
to *wait = malloc(N * sizeof **wait);.
That easily avoids using the wrong type in a sizeof.

Related

Segmentation Fault when access to a pointer of struct in struct

I have an issue with pointers to struct that have members that are pointers to struct too.
Browsing the suggested similar questions I found out this:
Accessing elements within a pointer of a struct inside another pointer to a struct
where people suggest to pay attention to allocation memory of the structure.
I think this is done correctly in my code.
typedef struct {
int id_vec;
float *vec_value;
} Vector;
typedef struct cluster{
int id_cluster;
float *centroid;
Vector *patternInCluster;
} Cluster;
int main(void){
Cluster *cluster_ptr= malloc(3 * sizeof(Cluster));
if (cluster_ptr==NULL){
printf("NULL");
}
cluster_ptr->patternInCluster=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector *));
if (cluster_ptr->patternInCluster==NULL){
printf("NULL");
cluster_ptr->patternInCluster=NULL;
}
float p1[3]={0.0f,1.0f,2.0f};
Vector *somePattern=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector));
somePattern[0].id_vec=1;
somePattern[0].vec_value=p1;
somePattern[1].id_vec=2;
somePattern[1].vec_value=p1;
}
Then I expect that this statement works:
cluster_ptr[1].patternInCluster[1]=somePattern[1];
But it compiles and produces a Segmentation Fault.
Unexpectedly, the following statement doesn't get errors:
cluster_ptr[0].patternInCluster[1]=somePattern[1];
and a test show me correct result(somePattern[1] id and value)
I tried to debug with gdb but I only can see this:
Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0x00005555555547fe in main () at test_struct.c:36
36 cluster_ptr[1].patternInCluster[1]=somePattern[1];
Am I missing some allocation mistakes?
It's because you're not populating things fully.
This line
cluster_ptr->patternInCluster=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector *));
is the same as saying
cluster_ptr[0].patternInCluster=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector *));
and really given that cluster_ptr has been allocated as 3 Cluster it would be more clearer in your code to do the latter.
Since cluster_ptr[1].patternInCluster hasn't been given a value, trying to dereference it will lead to undefined behaviour but more likely will result in a segmentation fault.
You do not allocate enough memory:
cluster_ptr->patternInCluster=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector *));
With patternInCluster being of type Vector *, you should allocate memory to hold elements of type Vector, not Vector*.
cluster_ptr->patternInCluster=malloc(2 * sizeof(Vector));
Your problem is NOT accessing the pointer inside the struct. Your problem is how you are using malloc().
When you have one pointer, you malloc only once:
int *pointer = (int* )malloc(sizeof(int));
*pointer = 1;
printf("*pointer:%d\n", *pointer);
When you have pointer-to-pointer, you malloc() once for the **pointer_to_pointer, but you also have to malloc() once for the *pointer_to_pointer:
int** pointer_to_pointer = (int** )malloc(sizeof(int*));
*pointer_to_pointer = (int* )malloc(sizeof(int));
**pointer_to_pointer = 2;
printf("**pointer:%d\n", **pointer_to_pointer);
And if you have more than one pointer, at the location pointed to by **pointer_to_pointer, you need a for loop to assign memory to every one of those *pointer_to_pointers.
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
*(pointer_to_pointer + i*sizeof(int)) = (int* )malloc(sizeof(int));
}
**(pointer_to_pointer + sizeof(int)) = 3;
**(pointer_to_pointer + 2UL*sizeof(int)) = 4;
printf("**(pointer_to_pointer + sizeof(int):%d\n", **(pointer_to_pointer + sizeof(int)));
printf("**(pointer_to_pointer + 2UL*sizeof(int):%d\n", **(pointer_to_pointer + 2UL*sizeof(int)));
You are mistaken to think that Cluster *cluster_ptr= malloc(3 * sizeof(Cluster)); will automatically/magically assign memory for Cluster[0] and Cluster[1] and Cluster[2].
Your statement actually assigns memory only for Cluster[0], but big enough for 3 Clusters.
So the the modified code will look like this:
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <malloc.h>
typedef struct {
int id_vec;
float *vec_value;
} Vector;
typedef struct cluster{
int id_cluster;
float *centroid;
Vector **patternInCluster;
} Cluster;
int main(void){
Cluster **cluster_ptr = (Cluster **)malloc(sizeof(Cluster*));
for (long unsigned int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
cluster_ptr[i] = (Cluster *)malloc(sizeof(Cluster));
if (cluster_ptr[i]==NULL){
printf("NULL");
}
cluster_ptr[i]->patternInCluster = (Vector **) malloc(sizeof(Vector*));
for (long unsigned int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
(*cluster_ptr)->patternInCluster[j] = (Vector *) malloc(sizeof(Vector));
if ((*cluster_ptr)->patternInCluster[j]==NULL){
printf("NULL");
(*cluster_ptr)->patternInCluster[j]=NULL;
}
}
}
float p1[3]={0.0f,1.0f,2.0f};
Vector *somePattern= (Vector *) malloc(sizeof(Vector));
somePattern[0].id_vec=1;
somePattern[0].vec_value=p1;
somePattern[1].id_vec=2;
somePattern[1].vec_value=p1;
cluster_ptr[1]->patternInCluster[1] = &somePattern[0];
cluster_ptr[0]->patternInCluster[1] = &somePattern[1];
cluster_ptr[1]->patternInCluster[0] = &somePattern[1];
cluster_ptr[2]->patternInCluster[1] = &somePattern[0];
printf("%d\n", cluster_ptr[1]->patternInCluster[1]->id_vec);
printf("%d\n", cluster_ptr[0]->patternInCluster[1]->id_vec);
printf("%d\n", cluster_ptr[1]->patternInCluster[0]->id_vec);
printf("%d\n", cluster_ptr[2]->patternInCluster[1]->id_vec);
return 0;
}
On my system, I just compiled and it builds and runs error-free.

Garbage value even after initializing members of dynamically allocated struct array

I have a dynamically allocated array of structures, 'buff'. Each element is a structure that has a few integer variables and a pointer 'buffer_ptr' which points to another dynamically allocated array of structures. The size of both arrays is given as command line input.
int buffer_size;
int user_num;
struct tuple
{
char userID[5];
char topic[16];
int weight;
};
struct buff_ctrl
{
struct tuple* buffer_ptr;
int in;
int out;
int numItems;
int done;
};
The arrays are created and initialized in main() as follows:
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
void *status;
pthread_t mapThd;
if(argc != 4)
{
printf("Input format: ./combiner <buffer_size> <number_of_users> <input_file>\n");
return -1;
}
buffer_size = atoi(argv[1]);
user_num = atoi(argv[2]);
struct buff_ctrl *buff = (struct buff_ctrl*)malloc(user_num * sizeof(struct buff_ctrl));
for(int i=0; i<user_num; i++)
{
struct buff_ctrl* curr_buff = (buff + (i*sizeof(struct buff_ctrl)));
struct tuple *ptr = (struct tuple*)malloc(buffer_size * sizeof(struct tuple));
curr_buff->buffer_ptr = ptr;//points to another array
curr_buff->in = 8;
curr_buff->out = 4;
curr_buff->numItems = 7;
curr_buff->done = 0;
printf("%p\n",curr_buff);
}
Then, I need to pass the 'buff' pointer as an argument when creating thread using pthread_create:
pthread_create(&mapThd, NULL, mapper, (void*)buff);
pthread_join(mapThd, &status);
free(buff);
/*end of main*/
My function pointer is as follows:
void* mapper(void *buff)
{
struct buff_ctrl* arr = (struct buff_ctrl *)buff;
struct buff_ctrl* temp_ptr;
printf("######################################################\n");
for(int k=0; k<user_num; k++)
{
/*Printing just to check values */
temp_ptr = arr + (k*sizeof(struct buff_ctrl));
printf("buffer ptr = %p\n", temp_ptr->buffer_ptr);
printf("in = %d\n", temp_ptr->in);
printf("out = %d\n", temp_ptr->out);
printf("numItems = %d\n", temp_ptr->numItems);
}
printf("######################################################\n");
pthread_exit((void*)buff);
}
But, when I print the values of 'buffer_ptr' from the created thread (only one), for ODD number of user_num, there is always ONE element of the array 'buff' which gives garbage value after pthread_create statement! When the values are checked in main itself after removing calls to pthread, it runs fine.
This line
struct buff_ctrl* curr_buff = (buff + (i*sizeof(struct buff_ctrl)));
should be
struct buff_ctrl* curr_buff = buff + i;
buff + i is pointer arithmetic and the compiler already takes the size of the
object pointed to by buff into consideration. By doing i*sizeof(struct buff_ctrl) you are assigning
a pointer that may be after the allocated memory.
As general suggestion:
Don't cast malloc. And instead of using sizeof(<type>), use sizeof *variable, this is more safe, because
it's easier to make mistakes when writing sizeof(<type>).
So:
struct buff_ctrl *buff = malloc(user_num * sizeof *buff);
...
struct tuple *ptr = malloc(buffer_size * sizeof *ptr);
And you don't need to declare a separate pointer, you can do:
for(int i=0; i<user_num; i++)
{
buff[i].buffer_ptr = malloc(buffer_size * sizeof *buff[i].buffer_ptr);
buff[i].in = 8;
buff[i].out = 4;
buff[i].numItems = 7;
buff[i].done = 0;
}
Also you should always check for the return value of malloc. If it returns
NULL, you cannot access that memory.
This is wrong:
struct buff_ctrl* curr_buff = (buff + (i*sizeof(struct buff_ctrl)));
When you do pointer arithmetic, it operates in units of the size of what the pointer points to, so you don't need to multiply by sizeof. As a result, you're effectively multiplying twice and accessing outside the array bounds.
Just treat buff as an array, rather than dealing with pointers.
for(int i=0; i<user_num; i++)
{
struct tuple *ptr = malloc(buffer_size * sizeof(struct tuple));
buff[i].buffer_ptr = ptr;//points to another array
buff[i].in = 8;
buff[i].out = 4;
buff[i].numItems = 7;
buff[i].done = 0;
}
Also, see Do I cast the result of malloc?
You have a fundamental error.
Pointer arithmetics works by adding the offset in multiples of the pointer type, so adding the offset yourself will not work as you apparently expect it to.
If it was a char * pointer then you would need to add the offset manually, increments would be multiplied by one. But in your case increments by n are multiplied by the size of the pointer base type.
There are times when doing pointer arithmetics with the addition notation makes sense, but most of the time it's much clearer to write index notation instead.

Segmentation Fault using pointer of structure

When I try to debug my program, I have error message like "Segmentation fault".
typedef struct
{
int a;
char *** tab;
}Operateur;
int main()
{
char * chaine = "test";
Operateur * emptyStruct = (struct Operateur *) malloc(sizeof(Operateur));
emptyStruct->tab[0][0] = * chaine;
return 0;
}
I would like to put the content of chaine in the first place of my array(tab).
Thanks.
The member tab is not initialized, you have to allocate it.
For example:
Operateur * emptyStruct = malloc(sizeof(Operateur));
emptyStruct->tab = malloc(sizeof(char**) * 1);
emptyStruct->tab[0] = malloc(sizeof(char*) * 1);
Change the "1" to allocate a bigger array.

Inserting and Manipulating Dynamic Array of Struct Pointers

Here is what I am trying to do:
1. Create an array of struct pointers.
2. Fill the array with malloc'd structs.
3. Then replace one element in the array with a new malloc'd struct
4. Have no memory leaks.
I have written a test program below, but I am getting seg faults due to invalid reads and writes on my call to memcpy. What am I doing wrong?
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
struct my_struct {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
struct my_struct **my_arr;
my_arr = (struct my_struct **) malloc(10 * sizeof(struct my_struct *));
int i;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
struct my_struct *my_str = (struct my_struct *) malloc(sizeof(struct my_struct *));
my_arr[i] = my_str;
}
free(my_arr[0]);
memcpy(my_arr[0], my_arr[1], sizeof(struct my_struct *) * 9);
my_arr[9] = (struct my_struct *) malloc(sizeof(struct my_struct *));
for (i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
free(my_arr[i]);
}
free(my_arr);
}
free(my_arr[0]);
memcpy(my_arr[0], my_arr[1], sizeof(struct my_struct *) * 9);
This is problem , you first free(my_arr[0]) and then copy my_arr[1] at address it points to .
You are not supposed to access memory after freeing it .
And also specified in manpage
[...]The memory areas must not overlap. Use memmove if the
memory areas do overlap.
again you do this -
my_arr[9] = (struct my_struct *) malloc(sizeof(struct my_struct *));
thus , loosing reference to previous memory block it was pointing to .
This code works and I cleaned it up a bit:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
struct my_struct {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(){
const int structsz=sizeof(struct my_struct);
struct my_struct **my_arr=malloc(10 * structsz);
int i;
printf("Before\n");
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++){
my_arr[i]=malloc(structsz);
my_arr[i]->a=20+i;
my_arr[i]->b=10+i;
printf("i=%d a=%d, b=%d\n",i,my_arr[i]->a,my_arr[i]->b);
}
free(my_arr[9]);
my_arr[9]=malloc(structsz);
memcpy(my_arr[9], my_arr[1], structsz); //make 1st struct in array equal the 9th
free(my_arr[8]);
my_arr[8]=malloc(structsz);
memcpy(my_arr[8], my_arr[2], structsz); //make 2st struct in array equal the 8th
printf("After\n");
for (i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
printf("i=%d a=%d, b=%d\n",i,my_arr[i]->a,my_arr[i]->b);
free(my_arr[i]);
}
free(my_arr);
return 0;
}
The reason why the third parameter of memcpy must be the same as the size of the structure is because both pointers in memcpy are the type of struct.
If the 3rd parameter is too large, then you can run into segmentation faults because you could try to copy memory that you're not allowed to access, or at best, you could be modifying other structs in your program.
If the 3rd parameter is too small, then you could receive invalid or insufficient data.

Creating function out of realloc() function

I would like to create a function that will reallocate 2D array of typedef struct
typedef struct hero_data{
char name[254];
char title[254];
int encoding;
int startstr;
double incstr;
int startdex;
double incdex;
int startintel;
double incintel;
int basemindmg,basemaxdmg;
double bat;
double basearmor;
struct hero_data *next;
struct hero_data *Class;
}hero;
typedef struct parameters{
int toughtotal;
int nimbletotal;
int smarttotal;
int skeptictotal;
int mystictotal;
int cursedtotal;
int brutetotal;
int shreddertotal;
int vanillatotal;
int typetotal;
int typenum;
hero **smart[];
hero **nimble[];
hero **tough[];
hero **type[][];
hero **skeptic[][];
hero **mystic[][];
hero **cursed[][];
hero **brute[][];
hero **shredder[][];
hero **vanilla[][];
}Parameters;
void reallocation(Parameters *p, int typenum,int typetotal)
{
int i;
p = realloc(p,sizeof(Parameters *) * typenum);
for ( i = 0; i < typenum; i++)
{
p[i] = realloc(p[i],sizeof(Parameters) * typetotal);
}
}
The function above shall be called like: void reallocation(p->type,p->typenum,p->typetotal);
So, by substituting the parameters of the function correctly, I expect the function to look like:
void reallocation(Parameters *p, int typenum,int typetotal)
{
int i;
p->type = realloc(p->type,sizeof(Parameters *) * p->typenum);
for ( i = 0; i < p->typenum; i++)
{
p->type[i] = realloc(p->type[i],sizeof(Parameters) * p->typetotal);
}
}
The typedef struct named Parameters contains int typenum, int typetotal, and the 2D arrays that shall be initialized through realloc().
When I try to compile, I am getting an error in Tiny C (Windows): *The file is in C.
Error: cannot cast 'struct parameters' to 'void *'
(This apeears in the 'p[i] = realloc(p[i],sizeof(Parameters) * typetotal')
Can anyone help me re-write this function so that I will be able to realloc the 2D arrays within the Parameter *p?
I tried changing void reallocation(Parameters *p, ...) into void reallocation(Parameters *p[], ...) and the Error # 2 becomes the same message as Error #1 and it appears in the = of p[i] = realloc (...);
A large problem with your code is that you are assigning inequal types to each other, and you are also not checking the result of realloc. If this call were to fail, you will leak the memory allocated initially.
Assuming that your struct looks like
typedef struct {
int typenum;
int typetotal;
} Parameters;
Parameters *p;
p = malloc(10 * sizeof(*p));
if (p == NULL)
printf("Allocatation of memory failed!\n");
To properly reallocate to say 20, you could do something like this
reallocate_p(&p, 20);
Where the function is defined as
void reallocate_p(Parameters **p, int new_size)
{
Parameters *temp;
temp = realloc(*p, sizeof(*temp) * new_size);
if (temp==NULL) {
printf("Reallocatation of memory failed!\n");
// Handle error
}
*p = temp;
return;
}
Also note that we don't cast the return value of malloc() and realloc().
As to why, see this reference
OP is coding in C, but using a using a C++ compiler.
Code in C++
// C
// p = realloc(p,sizeof(Parameters *) * typenum);
// C++
p = (Parameters *) realloc(p,sizeof(Parameters *) * typenum);
OR
VS2012: set properties for each C file to use C compiler
How to compile C in visual studio 2010?
OP code has a memory leak when scaling down the pointer array table. The pointers in the table that are about to be loss due to realloc() need to be freed first.
for (i=old_typenum; i<typenum; i++) free(p[i]);
p = realloc(p,sizeof(Parameters *) * typenum);

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