Creating 2D array in single malloc() call - c

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define MAX_ROWS 5
#define MAX_COLS 5
int globalvariable = 100;
void CreateMatrix(int ***Matrix)
{
int **ptr;
char *cp;
int i = 0;
*Matrix = (int**)malloc((sizeof(int*) * MAX_ROWS) + ((MAX_ROWS * MAX_COLS)*sizeof(int)));
ptr = *Matrix;
cp = (char*)((char*)*Matrix + (sizeof(int*) * MAX_ROWS));
for(i =0; i < MAX_ROWS; i++)
{
cp = (char*)(cp + ((sizeof(int) * MAX_COLS) * i));
*ptr = (int*)cp;
ptr++;
}
}
void FillMatrix(int **Matrix)
{
int i = 0, j = 0;
for(i = 0; i < MAX_ROWS; i++)
{
for(j = 0; j < MAX_COLS; j++)
{
globalvariable++;
Matrix[i][j] = globalvariable;
}
}
}
void DisplayMatrix(int **Matrix)
{
int i = 0, j = 0;
for(i = 0; i < MAX_ROWS; i++)
{
printf("\n");
for(j = 0; j < MAX_COLS; j++)
{
printf("%d\t", Matrix[i][j]);
}
}
}
void FreeMatrix(int **Matrix)
{
free(Matrix);
}
int main()
{
int **Matrix1, **Matrix2;
CreateMatrix(&Matrix1);
FillMatrix(Matrix1);
DisplayMatrix(Matrix1);
FreeMatrix(Matrix1);
getchar();
return 0;
}
If the code is executed, I get the following error messages in a dialogbox.
Windows has triggered a breakpoint in sam.exe.
This may be due to a corruption of the heap, which indicates a bug in sam.exe or any of the DLLs it has loaded.
This may also be due to the user pressing F12 while sam.exe has focus.
The output window may have more diagnostic information.
I tried to debug in Visual Studio, when printf("\n"); statement of DisplayMatrix() is executed, same error message is reproduced.
If I press continue, it prints 101 to 125 as expected. In Release Mode, there is no issue !!!.
please share your ideas.

In C it is often simpler and more efficient to allocate a numerical matrix with calloc and use explicit index calculation ... so
int width = somewidth /* put some useful width computation */;
int height = someheight /* put some useful height computation */
int *mat = calloc(width*height, sizeof(int));
if (!mat) { perror ("calloc"); exit (EXIT_FAILURE); };
Then initialize and fill the matrix by computing the offset appropriately, e.g. something like
for (int i=0; i<width; i++)
for (int j=0; j<height; j++)
mat[i*height+j] = i+j;
if the matrix has (as you show) dimensions known at compile time, you could either stack allocate it with
{ int matrix [NUM_COLS][NUM_ROWS];
/* do something with matrix */
}
or heap allocate it. I find more readable to make it a struct like
struct matrix_st { int matfield [NUM_COLS][NUM_ROWS]; };
struct matrix_st *p = malloc(sizeof(struct matrix_st));
if (!p) { perror("malloc"); exit(EXIT_FAILURE); };
then fill it appropriately:
for (int i=0; i<NUM_COLS; i++)
for (int j=0; j<NUM_ROWS, j++)
p->matfield[i][j] = i+j;
Remember that malloc returns an uninitialized memory zone so you need to initialize all of it.

A two-dimensional array is not the same as a pointer-to-pointer. Maybe you meant
int (*mat)[MAX_COLS] = malloc(MAX_ROWS * sizeof(*mat));
instead?

Read this tutorial.
A very good & complete tutorial for pointers, you can go directly to Chapter 9, if you have in depth basic knowledge.

Related

C allocate 'array pointer' inside a function

Related to dynamic allocation inside a function, most questions & answers are based on double pointers.
But I was recommended to avoid using double pointer unless I have to, so I want to allocate a 'array pointer' (not 'array of pointer') and hide it inside a function.
int (*arr1d) = calloc(dim1, sizeof(*arr1d));
int (*arr2d)[dim2] = calloc(dim1, sizeof(*arr2d));
Since the above lines are the typical dynamic-allocation of pointer of array, I tried the following.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int allocateArray1D(int n, int **arr) {
*arr = calloc(n, sizeof(*arr));
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
(*arr)[i] = i;
}
return 0;
}
int allocateArray2D(int nx, int ny, int *(*arr)[ny]) {
*arr[ny] = calloc(nx, sizeof(*arr));
for (int i = 0; i < nx; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < ny; j++) {
(*arr)[i][j] = 10 * i + j;
}
}
return 0;
}
int main() {
int nx = 3;
int ny = 2;
int *arr1d = NULL; // (1)
allocateArray1D(nx, &arr1d);
int(*arr2d)[ny] = NULL; // (2)
allocateArray2D(nx, ny, &arr2d);
for (int i = 0; i < nx; i++) {
printf("arr1d[%d] = %d \n", i, arr1d[i]);
}
printf("\n");
printf("arr2d \n");
for (int i = 0; i < nx; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < ny; j++) {
printf(" %d ", arr2d[i][j]);
}
printf("\n");
}
return 0;
}
And the error message already comes during the compilation.
03.c(32): warning #167: argument of type "int (**)[ny]" is incompatible with parameter of type "int *(*)[*]"
allocateArray2D(nx, ny, &arr2d);
^
It is evident from the error message that it has been messed up with the argument types (that I wrote as int *(*arr)[ny]) but what should I have to put there? I tried some variants like int *((*arr)[ny]), but didn't work).
And if I remove the 2D parts, then the code well compiles, and run as expected. But I wonder if this is the right practice, at least for 1D case since there are many examples where the code behaves as expected, but in fact there were wrong or un-standard lines.
Also, the above code is not satisfactory in the first place. I want to even remove the lines in main() that I marked as (1) and (2).
So in the end I want a code something like this, but all with the 'array pointers'.
int **arr2d;
allocateArray2D(nx, ny, arr2d);
How could this be done?
You need to pass the array pointer by reference (not pass an array pointer to an array of int*):
int *(*arr)[ny] -> int (**arr)[ny]
The function becomes:
int allocateArray2D(int nx, int ny, int (**arr)[ny]) {
*arr = calloc(nx, sizeof(int[ny])); // or sizeof(**arr)
for (int i = 0; i < nx; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < ny; j++) {
(*arr)[i][j] = 10 * i + j;
}
}
return 0;
}
For details, check out Correctly allocating multi-dimensional arrays
Best practices with malloc family is to always check if allocation succeeded and always free() at the end of the program.
As a micro-optimization, I'd rather recommend to use *arr = malloc( sizeof(int[nx][ny]) );, since calloc just creates pointless overhead bloat in the form of zero initialization. There's no use of it here since every item is assigned explicitly anyway.
Wrong parameter type
Strange allocation
Wrong size type
I would return the array as void * too (at least to check if allocation did not fail).
void *allocateArray2D(size_t nx, size_t ny, int (**arr)[ny]) {
//*arr = calloc(nx, sizeof(**arr)); calloc is not needed here as you assign values to the array
*arr = malloc(nx * sizeof(**arr));
for (size_t i = 0; i < nx; i++) {
for (size_t j = 0; j < ny; j++) {
(*arr)[i][j] = 10 * i + j;
}
}
return *arr;
}

"expression must have a constant value" visual studio error E0028

#define max 40
...
void transpose(int matrix[][max], int* row, int* col)
{
int data[*row][max]; //expression must have a constant value at *row.
for (int i = 0; i < *row; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < *col; j++)
{
data[i][j] = matrix[i][j];
}
}
int _col = *row; //this *row works fine.
*row = *col; //also this *row works fine.
*col = _col;
for (int i = 0; i < *row; i++) //this *row is fine too.
{
for (int j = 0; j < *col; j++)
{
matrix[i][j] = data[j][i];
}
}
}
int main()
{
...
if (...)
{
int row = 0, col = 0;
int matrix[30][max];
if (FunctionReadFile(Parameters[0], matrix, &row, &col))
{
...
transpose(matrix, &row, &col);
...
}
...
}
...
return 0;
}
I tried put 'const' before int but it still show this error at [*row], why does this error occured and how to fix it? Does declaring an dynamic array is the only to fix this problem, any possible solution easier?
Your compiler does not support VLA:s, so you should use dynamic allocation:
void transpose(int matrix[][max], int* row, int* col)
{
// Parenthesis matters. This is a pointer to array of size max. Without
// the parenthesis, it would be an array of pointers to int.
int (*data)[max] = malloc(max * sizeof (*data));
for (int i = 0; i < *row; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < *col; j++)
{
data[i][j] = matrix[i][j];
}
}
free(data);
}
Do note that I did not check if the allocation failed. You can do that with a simple check. If the pointer is NULL, then the allocation failed. Also, remember to free the memory when you're done with it as shown.
You can use _alloca() or _malloca() in MSVC for stack allocation.
Return Value
The _alloca routine returns a void pointer to the allocated space,
which is guaranteed to be suitably aligned for storage of any type of
object. If size is 0, _alloca allocates a zero-length item and
returns a valid pointer to that item.
A stack overflow exception is generated if the space cannot be
allocated. The stack overflow exception is not a C++ exception; it is
a structured exception. Instead of using C++ exception handling, you
must use Structured Exception Handling (SEH).
Remarks
_alloca allocates size bytes from the program stack. The allocated
space is automatically freed when the calling function exits (not when
the allocation merely passes out of scope). Therefore, do not pass the
pointer value returned by _alloca as an argument to free.
There are restrictions to explicitly calling _alloca in an exception
handler (EH). EH routines that run on x86-class processors operate in
their own memory frame: They perform their tasks in memory space that
is not based on the current location of the stack pointer of the
enclosing function. ...
For example:
void transpose(int matrix[][max], int* row, int* col)
{
int ( *data )[ max ] = _alloca( max * sizeof( *data ) );
for (int i = 0; i < *row; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < *col; j++)
{
data[i][j] = matrix[i][j];
}
}
...
Or, with _malloca(), which requires you to call _freea():
void transpose(int matrix[][max], int* row, int* col)
{
int ( *data )[ max ] = _malloca( max * sizeof( *data ) );
for (int i = 0; i < *row; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < *col; j++)
{
data[i][j] = matrix[i][j];
}
}
...
_freea( data );
...

2D arrays using arrays of pointers or pointers to pointers in C?

I'm writing a C for which I need to create a 2D array. I've found a solution to my problem using double pointers (pointers to pointers) in the following way:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int d = 3;
#define DIM_MAX 9
void changeArray(int d, int *array[d]);
int main()
{
//alocate array of 'd' colummns and 'd' row using malloc using array of pointers
int **array = malloc(d*sizeof(int *));
for(int count = 0; count < d; count++)
{
array[count] = malloc(d*sizeof(int *));
}
/* Call changeArray function */
changeArray(d, array);
for(int i = 0; i < d; i++)
{
for(int j = 0; j < d; j++)
{
printf("%d ", array[i][j]);
}
printf("\n");
}
for(int count = 0; count < d; count++)
{
free(array[count]);
}
return 0;
}
void changeArray(int n, int *array[d])
{
for(int i =0; i < n; i++)
{
for(int j = 0; j < n; j++)
{
array[i][j] = i*j;
}
}
return;
}
The code above works pretty well (it seems), but I've read in the web that using pointer to pointer is not the correct way to create 2D arrays. So I've come up with the following code, which also works:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define DIM_MAX 9
int d = 3;
void changeArray(int d, int *array[d]);
int main()
{
//alocate array of 'd' colummns and 'd' row using malloc using array of pointers
int *array[DIM_MAX] = {0};
for(int count = 0; count < d; count++)
{
array[count] = (int *)malloc(d*sizeof(int *));
}
/* Call changeArray function */
changeArray(d, array);
for(int i = 0; i < d; i++)
{
for(int j = 0; j < d; j++)
{
printf("%d ", array[i][j]);
}
printf("\n");
}
for(int count = 0; count < d; count++)
{
free(array[count]);
}
return 0;
}
void changeArray(int n, int *array[d])
{
for(int i =0; i < n; i++)
{
for(int j = 0; j < n; j++)
{
array[i][j] = i*j;
}
}
return;
}
What is the difference in using any of the two ways above to write this code?
[Not an answer, but an alternative approach to achieve the desired result, namely defining a user-defined 2D array.]
Assuming the compiler in use supports VLAs you could do this:
#include <stddef.h> /* for size_t */
void init_a(size_t x, size_t y, int a[x][y]); /* Order matters here!
1st give the dimensions, then the array. */
{
for (size_t i = 0; i < x; ++i)
{
for (size_t j = 0; j < y; ++j)
{
a[i][j] = (int) (i * j); /* or whatever values you need ... */
}
}
}
int main(void)
{
size_t x, y;
/* Read in x and y from where ever ... */
{
int a[x][y]; /* Define array of user specified size. */
init_a(x, y, a); /* "Initialise" the array's elements. */
...
}
}
It is actually pretty simple. All you have to do is this:
int i[][];
You are overthinking it. Same as a normal array, but has two indexes.
Let's say you want to create a "table" of 4 x 4. You will need to malloc space for 4 pointers, first. Each of those index points will contain a pointer which references the location in memory where your [sub] array begins (in this case, let's say the first pointer points to the location in memory where your first of four arrays is). Now this array needs to be malloc for 4 "spaces" (in this case, let's assume of type INT). (so array[0] = the first array) If you wanted to set the values 1, 2, 3, 4 within that array, you'd be specifying array[0][0], array[0][1], array[0][2], array[0][3]. This would then be repeated for the other 3 arrays that create this table.
Hope this helps!

Memory allocation. 2D array (Void function)

I followed few examples on this forum, but it seems like my program still keeps crashing at some point.
All i want to do is just use a void function for memory allocation.
void alloc(int ***matrix, int n)
{
int i = 0;
for( ; i < n; i++)
{
(*matrix)[i] = (int*)malloc(n * sizeof(int));
}
i = 0;
for( ; i < n; i++)
{
int j = 0;
for( ; j < n; j++)
{
(*matrix)[i][j] = i * j;
}
}
}
//-------------------------------------------------------------------
int main()
{
int n;
int **matrix_pp;
printf("Enter n: ");
scanf("%d", &n);
alloc(&matrix_pp, n);
free(matrix_pp);
return 0;
}
You try to use (*matrix)[i] before it's been allocated. Add:
(*matrix) = malloc(n * sizeof(**matrix));
before your for loop.
Note two things here:
1) Don't cast the result of malloc,
2) use sizeof(*pointer) instead of explicitly writing out the type; this way, if you decide to change the type later, it will still work.
Further, you will need to free all of the allocations you have in a loop as a loop as well; otherwise, you have a memory leak.

2D Dynamic Array Allocation and Passing by Reference in C

Can someone wiser than I please explain to me why the following code segment faults? There is no problem allocating the memory by reference, but as soon as I try to assign anything or free by reference, segfault occurs.
I'm sure I'm missing some fundamental concept about pointers and passing by reference, hopefully some light can be shed.
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
void allocateMatrix(float ***);
void fillMatrix(float ***);
void freeMatrix(float **);
int main() {
float **matrix;
allocateMatrix(&matrix); // this function calls and returns OK
fillMatrix(&matrix); // this function will segfault
freeMatrix(matrix); // this function will segfault
exit(0);
}
void allocateMatrix(float ***m) {
int i;
m = malloc(2*sizeof(float*));
for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
m[i] = malloc(2*sizeof(float));
}
return;
}
void fillMatrix(float ***m) {
int i,j;
for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
for (j = 0; j < 2; j++) {
(*m)[i][j] = 1.0; // SEGFAULT
}
}
return;
}
void freeMatrix(float **m) {
int i;
for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
free(m[i]); // SEGFAULT
}
free(m);
return;
}
One set of problems is here:
void allocateMatrix(float ***m) {
int i;
m = malloc(2*sizeof(float*));
for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
m[i] = malloc(2*sizeof(float));
}
return;
}
You need to assign to *m to get the information back to the calling code, and also you will need to allocate to (*m)[i] in the loop.
void allocateMatrix(float ***m)
{
*m = malloc(2*sizeof(float*));
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
(*m)[i] = malloc(2*sizeof(float));
}
There's at least a chance that the other functions are OK. The fillMatrix() is written and invoked correctly, though it could be simplified by losing the third * from the pointer:
void fillMatrix(float **m)
{
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++)
m[i][j] = 1.0;
}
}
It might be advisable to pass the triple-pointer to freeMatrix() so that you can zero the pointer in the calling function:
void freeMatrix(float ***m)
{
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
free((*m)[i]);
free(*m);
*m = 0;
}
Calling then becomes:
allocateMatrix(&matrix);
fillMatrix(matrix);
freeMatrix(&matrix);
Good use of indirection. Just try to be consistent with format. It improves readability and reduces errors. e.g.
function calls:
allocateMatrix &matrix
fillMatrix &matrix
freeMatrix &matrix
declarations
void allocateMatrix float ***m
void fillMatrix float ***m
void freeMatrix float ***m
handling
(*m)[i] = malloc(2 * sizeof(float))
(*m)[i][j] = 1.0
free (*m)[i]
Returning of pointer from your function is probably the better way to allocate memory:
float **allocateMatrix() {
int i;
float **m;
m = malloc(2*sizeof(float *));
for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
m[i] = malloc(2*sizeof(float));
}
return m;
}
int main() {
float **m;
m = allocateMatrix();
/* do other things
fillMatrix(matrix);
freeMatrix(&matrix);
*/
}

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