Hash Table: it doesn't save correctly [closed] - c

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What my program do..
read a text file of format
store name 1
itemcode quantity
itemcode quantity
.
.
store name 2
itemcode quantity
itemcode quantity
.
.
When you Run my code you will Ask to Enter a task.
there are three options
L itemcode quantity
entering the above sequence will print all the stores which contains that item with the given quantity.
U itemcode quantity storename
this option takes three arguments itemcode int quantity and storename
the Function for this option just update the given store with the amount quantity.
Q
this option call my Savefile method which save the current data structure back to the file.
Problem.
There is a problem I am facing.
whenever I update file it updates successfully but when Enter Command Q to quit and save it doesn't save correctly..
save_file(char *)
it lost whole data just the first store is save..
stores.txt
carrefour_Milan
12345678 12
23456766 16
carrefour_Torino
12345678 65
67676765 12
Carrefour_Vercelli
23456766 20
and also can you help me in finding the time complexity of
int listfile(char *)
and
int updatefile(char *,int ,char *)
I mean Big O.
#include<stdio.h>
#include<string.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#define MAX_ITEM 1000
#define MAXS 129
#define MAXL 132
#define MAXC 9
FILE *fp;
typedef struct store{
char Storename[MAXS];
int quantity;
struct store *NEXT;
}STORE;
typedef struct item{
char item_code[MAXC];
struct store *Stores;
struct item *NEXT;
}ITEM;
ITEM *list_item[MAX_ITEM];
int readfile(char *fname);
int update_file(char *item_code,int qty,char *name);
int hash(char *item_code);
int save_file(char *fname);
void init();
void init(){
int i;
for( i=0;i<MAX_ITEM;i++)
list_item[i]=NULL;
}
int readfile(char *fname){
char *p,line[MAXL+1],storen[MAXL+1];
int pos;
ITEM *current=NULL,*prev=NULL;
STORE *s_cur=NULL,*s_prev=NULL;
char itemcode[MAXC];int qty;
if((fp=fopen(fname,"r"))==NULL)
return -1;
while(!feof(fp)){
if(fgets(line,MAXL+1,fp)==NULL)
break;
if((p=strchr(line,'\n'))==NULL)
;
else
*p='\0';
if(line[0]>='a' && line[0]<='z' ||line[0]>='A' && line[0]<='Z')
strcpy(storen,line);
else{
//fgets(line,MAXL,fp);
if(sscanf(line,"%s %d",itemcode,&qty)>0){
current=(ITEM *)malloc(sizeof(ITEM));
if(current==NULL)
return -1;
pos=hash(itemcode);
if(list_item[pos]==NULL){
list_item[pos]=current;
if((s_cur=(STORE *)malloc(sizeof(STORE)))==NULL)
return -1;
strcpy(s_cur->Storename,storen);
strcpy(current->item_code,itemcode);
s_cur->quantity=qty;
current->Stores=s_cur;
s_cur->NEXT=NULL;
current->NEXT=NULL;
}
else{
ITEM *q=list_item[pos];
if((s_cur=(STORE *)malloc(sizeof(STORE)))==NULL)
return -1;
while(q!=NULL){
if(strcmp(q->item_code,itemcode)==0){
STORE *temp=q->Stores,*temp_a=NULL;
if(temp==NULL){
q->Stores=s_cur;
strcpy(s_cur->Storename,storen);
s_cur->quantity=qty;
s_cur->NEXT=NULL;
}
else{
while(temp!=NULL){
temp_a=temp;
temp=temp->NEXT;
}
temp_a->NEXT=s_cur;
strcpy(s_cur->Storename,storen);
s_cur->quantity=qty;
s_cur->NEXT=NULL;
}
}
q=q->NEXT;
}
if(q==NULL){
q=current;
current->NEXT=NULL;
current->Stores=s_cur;
strcpy(s_cur->Storename,storen);
s_cur->quantity=qty;
s_cur->NEXT=NULL;
}
}
}
}
}
fclose(fp);
return 0;
}
int listfile(char *item_code,int qty){
int i;
ITEM *u=NULL;
item_code[strlen(item_code)]='\0';
if(list_item[hash(item_code)]==NULL)
return -1;
else{
u=list_item[hash(item_code)];
while(u!=NULL){
if(strcmp(u->item_code,item_code)==0){
STORE *temp=u->Stores;
while(temp!=NULL){
if(temp->quantity>=qty){
printf("STORE %s\n",temp->Storename);
}
temp=temp->NEXT;
}
}
u=u->NEXT;
}
}
return 0;
}
int update_file(char *item_code,int qty,char *name){
ITEM *u=NULL;
item_code[strlen(item_code)]='\0';
name[strlen(name)]='\0';
if(list_item[hash(item_code)]==NULL)
return -1;
u=list_item[hash(item_code)];
if(u==NULL)
return -1;
while(u!=NULL){
if(strcmp(u->item_code,item_code)==0){
STORE *temp=u->Stores;
while(temp!=NULL){
if(strcmp(temp->Storename,name)==0)
temp->quantity+=qty;
temp=temp->NEXT;
}
}
u=u->NEXT;
}
return 0;
}
int hash(char *item_code){
int sum=0,s=0;
while(item_code[s]!='\0'){
sum+=33*item_code[s];
s++;}
return sum%MAX_ITEM;
}
void clear(){
char c;
while(c!='\n')
scanf("%c",&c);
}
main(){
int y;
char fname[]="stores.txt",line[MAXL],command,z[MAXS];
char x[MAXC];
init();
if(readfile(fname)==-1)
printf("Error reading file!");
else{
do{
printf("Enter task:");
fgets(line,MAXL,stdin);
sscanf(line,"%c",&command);
switch(command){
case 'L': sscanf(line,"%c%s%d",&command,x,&y);
if(listfile(x,y)==-1)
printf("No items were found\n");
break;
case 'U':sscanf(line,"%c%s%d%s",&command,x,&y,z);
if(update_file(x,y,z)==0)
printf("Update OK\n");
else
printf("Error when updating\n");
break;
case 'Q':if(save_file(fname)==0)
printf("Done\n!");
break;
default:printf("Enter correct command\n");
break;
}
}while(command!='Q');
}
}
int save_file(char *fname){
ITEM *p=NULL,*q=NULL;
int num=0,i,j;
char str[MAXS];
if((fp=fopen(fname,"w"))==NULL)
return -1;
for( i=0;i<MAX_ITEM;i++){
if(list_item[i]==NULL)
;
else{
p=list_item[i];
while(p!=NULL){
STORE *s=p->Stores;
if(s==NULL)
;
else{
if(strcmp(s->Storename,"0000\0")!=0){
strcpy(str,s->Storename);
// puts(str);
fprintf(fp,"%s\n",str);
}
while(s!=NULL){
for( j=0;j<MAX_ITEM;j++){
if(list_item[j]==NULL)
;
else{
q=list_item[j];
while(q!=NULL){
STORE *st=q->Stores;
if(st==NULL)
;
else{
while(st!=NULL){
if(strcmp(st->Storename,str)==0 && strcmp(st->Storename,"0000\0")!=0){
printf("%s %d\n",q->item_code,st->quantity);
fprintf(fp,"%s %d\n",q->item_code,st->quantity);
strcpy(st->Storename,"0000\0");
}
st=st->NEXT;
}
}
q=q->NEXT;
}
}
}
s=s->NEXT;
}
}
p=p->NEXT;
}
}
}
fclose(fp);
return 0;
}

This is an inconsistent and unreadable mess. I suggest as first steps to refactor the layout.
Repair the indentation so it reflects the code structure. Chose a bracing style and use it consistently. Something like this
if(x){
;
}else{
foo();
}
should better look like this:
if (x) {
;
}
else {
foo();
}
That's a much better starting point for any debugging and maintenance. And there is a lot of maintenance necessary.

Your code is very inefficient. For example when reading the file, you malloc the store structure separately in both branches of the if statement, and copy the store name in three different places, again in all different code paths. Why not simply malloc the store structure and initialise it correctly before you work out where to put it?
Also in the read file function, if the hash table position corresponding to the item is not empty, the memory allocated to "current" gets leaked.
Furthermore, if you actually find a match for the item, you don't break out of the loop which means that the block of code beginning:
if(q==NULL){
q=current;
gets executed.
Lastly (for now), if a slot in the hash table is filled but there is no matching itemcode then the item won't get put into the hash table. Look at your code. At what point do you assign "current" to any part of the chain that starts at "list_item[pos]"? You don't. Doing "q = current" just stores one value in another variable. What you need is something like:
current->next = list_item[pos];
list_item[pos] = current;
To add it on at the beginning of the list.
I suggest you fix your file reading function before worrying about your file writing function.
P.s. an upvote and a request for more comments may get you some more help. Depending on how busy I am and whether others can also be bothered to help.

Related

String in structure gets deleted

I'm working on the last exercise of the "Think like a computer scientist, C version" book and I have some trouble with one particular point.
The exercise consists of making a small game, where the computer picks a random value between 0 and 20 and then asks me to guess the number.
After that, the computer counts the number of tries I made and, if I get a better score than the previous party, I need to store my name and the number of tries in a structure.
My problem is the following: When I restart the game, the string value, player_name, in the structure gets somehow deleted but player_score is still there.
First, I made a "call by value" function to create the structure and then a tried with a "call by reference" but getting the same results.
I think I tried everything I could with my actual knowledge for now; so, if someone could check my code and give me some tips about what's wrong I would much appreciate it!
//HEADERS
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
#define FALSE 0
#define TRUE 1
//TYPEDEF STRUCTS
typedef struct
{
int player_score;
char *player_name;
} HS_Player;
//FUNCTION PROTOTYPES
int Random_Value(void);
int Get_User_Choice(void);
int Check_Result(int computer, int my_choice);
int Try_Again(int game_result, int computer);
void Player_Infos(HS_Player *player_p, int score);
int Game_Restart(void);
//MAIN
int main(void)
{
int end_game;
int high_score_value = 100;
HS_Player player;
while (end_game != TRUE)
{
int computer_number = Random_Value();
printf("Guess the number between 0 et 20 chosen by the computer.\n");
int your_number = Get_User_Choice();
int result_game = Check_Result(computer_number, your_number);
int tries_to_win = Try_Again(result_game, computer_number);
printf("Number of tries: %i\n", tries_to_win);
if (tries_to_win < high_score_value)
{
Player_Infos(&player, tries_to_win );
high_score_value = player.player_score;
}
printf("Highest score: %i By: %s\n", player.player_score, player.player_name);
printf("\n");
end_game = Game_Restart();
}
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
//Random_Value FUNCTION
int Random_Value(void)
{
srand(time(NULL));
int x = rand();
int y = x % 20;
return y;
}
//Get_User_Choice FUNCTION
int Get_User_Choice(void)
{
int success, x;
char ch;
printf("Your Guess:\t");
success = scanf("%i", &x);
while (success != 1)
{
printf("Your input is not a number. Please try again:\t");
while ((ch = getchar()) != '\n' && ch != EOF);
success = scanf("%i", &x);
}
if (x < 0 || x > 20)
{
printf("Your input must be between 0 and 20. Please try again.\n");
Get_User_Choice();
}
return x;
}
//Check_Result FUNCTION
int Check_Result(int computer, int my_choice)
{
int check_result;
if (my_choice < computer)
{
printf("Computer number is larger!\n");
check_result = FALSE;
}
else if (my_choice > computer)
{
printf("Computer number is smaller!\n");
check_result = FALSE;
}
else if (my_choice == computer)
{
printf("It's a Match! You chose the same number than the computer.\n");
printf("\n");
check_result = TRUE;
}
return check_result;
}
//Try_Again FUNCTION
int Try_Again(int game_result, int computer)
{
int tries_befor_success = 1;
while (game_result != TRUE)
{
int your_number = Get_User_Choice();
game_result = Check_Result(computer, your_number);
tries_befor_success++;
}
return tries_befor_success;
}
//Player_Infos FUNCTION
void Player_Infos(HS_Player *player_p, int score)
{
char new_name[80];
printf("Congrats! Your made a new high score.\n");
printf("What's your name ?\t");
scanf("%s", new_name);
printf("\n");
player_p->player_score = score;
player_p->player_name = new_name;
}
//Game_Restart FUNCTION
int Game_Restart(void)
{
int quit_value;
printf("Quit Game ?\n");
printf("Press 'y' to quit or any other keys to continue.\n");
fflush(stdin);
char quit_game = getchar();
printf("\n");
if (quit_game == 'y')
{
quit_value = TRUE;
}
else
{
quit_value = FALSE;
}
return quit_value;
}
The problem is that, in your Player_Infos function, you are assigning the address of a local array to the char* player_name pointer member of the passed structure. When that function ends, the local array it used will be deleted and the pointer in the structure will be invalid. (In the case of the player_score, you don't have that problem, because the given value is copied to the structure member.)
There are several ways around this; one would be to use the strdup() function to make a copy of the local char new_name[80]; array – but that is really overkill, and you would need to manage (i.e. free()) that allocated string whenever you make a modification.
A simpler way is to make the player_name member an actual array of char and then use strcpy() to copy the local array into that member.
Better, still, with the player_name member defined as char [80], you can read directly into that (in the function), and avoid the local array completely:
typedef struct
{
int player_score;
char player_name[80];
} HS_Player;
//...
void Player_Infos(HS_Player *player_p, int score)
{
printf("Congrats! Your made a new high score.\n");
printf("What's your name ?\t");
// Read directly. Limit input to 79 chars (allowing room for null terminator).
scanf("%79s", player_p->player_name);
printf("\n");
player_p->player_score = score;
}
Also, just as a "style" tip, you may want to change the member names to just score and name, as the "player" part is implied by the structure type-name itself.
This issue you are having is that you are associating the player name pointer to a variable that goes out of scope when you leave the "player_Infos" function. What you probably would want to do is define the name as a character array in your structure and then use the "strcpy" call in your function instead. Following is a couple of code snippets illustrating that point.
//TYPEDEF STRUCTS
typedef struct
{
int player_score;
char player_name[80];
} HS_Player;
Then, in your function, use the "strcpy" call.
//Player_Infos FUNCTION
void Player_Infos(HS_Player *player_p, int score)
{
char new_name[80];
printf("Congrats! Your made a new high score.\n");
printf("What's your name ?\t");
scanf("%s", new_name);
printf("\n");
player_p->player_score = score;
strcpy(player_p->player_name, new_name);
//player_p->player_name = new_name;
}
When I tested that out, I got a name to appear in the terminal output.
Computer number is smaller!
Your Guess: 4
It's a Match! You chose the same number than the computer.
Number of tries: 8
Highest score: 4 By: Craig
FYI, you will need to include the "string.h" file.
Give that a try.
Name Update
The reason your player.player_name is not getting updated is because you can't assign a string this way in C. When doing player_p->player_name = new_name; you're actually saving in player_p->player_name the memory address of new_name.
Instead, what you want to achieve, is to copy each character of new_name to player_p->player_name and in order to achieve this, you have to change the type of prlayer_name field from char* player_name to char player_name[80], then assign it using, for example, strcpy():
#include <string.h>
// [...]
//TYPEDEF STRUCTS
typedef struct
{
unsigned int player_score;
char player_name[80];
} HS_Player;
// [...]
//Player_Infos FUNCTION
void Player_Infos(HS_Player *player_p, int score)
{
char new_name[80];
printf("Congrats! Your made a new high score.\n");
printf("What's your name ?\t");
scanf("%s", new_name);
printf("\n");
player_p->player_score = score;
strcpy(player_p->player_name, new_name);
}
Data Persistence
To make data (players info) persistent over multiple runs, you have to save the content of the struct to a file.
Example
int Save_Score(char* filename, HS_Player* player)
{
FILE* file = fopen(filename, "w");
if (file == NULL)
{
fprintf(stderr, "\nAn error occurred while opening the file\n");
return -1;
}
if (fprintf(file, "%d %s", player->player_score, player->player_name) < 0)
return -1;
fclose(file);
return 0;
}
int Load_Score(char* filename, HS_Player* player)
{
FILE* file = fopen(filename, "r");
if (file == NULL)
{
fprintf(stderr, "\nAn error occurred while opening the file\n");
return -1;
}
if (fscanf(file, "%d %79s", &player->player_score, player->player_name) < 0)
return -1;
fclose(file);
return 0;
}

C Programming - Using Parallel Arrays to enter Names, Exercise Marks and Compute Average of Exercise Marks and Display

I'm doing self-study on C Programming, and I have been recommended the following C Program by my colleagues to study further, where you can enter the Name and Age and it displays and uses Insert, Delete, Display, and Exit menu options.
I'm trying to convert it to my current study stream logic scenario where I need to enter the Name, Exercise Mark 1 (up to 3), and then it computes the Average and gets displayed while employing the Insert, Delete, Display, Update (updating the scores only, not the names), Delete and Exit.
Any guidance please on how to learn this code and understand the logic, and apply it to the 2nd scenario will be much appreciated.
Here is the code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#define MAX 50
//using parallel arrays as fields in the list
typedef struct list{
char name[MAX][31];
int age[MAX];
int last;
}LIST;
LIST L;//L structure is global
void save();
void retrieve();
void makenull();
void insert(char n[31],int a);
void del(char n[31]);
void display();
int locate(char n[31]);
int isfull();
int isempty();
int menu();
int main(){
char nm[31];
int ag;
makenull();
retrieve();
while(1){
switch(menu()){
case 1: system("cls");printf("Insert Mode\n");
printf("Input Name: ");scanf("%s",nm);
printf("Input Age: ");scanf("%d",&ag);insert(nm,ag);break;
case 2: system("cls");printf("Delete Mode\n");
printf("Input Name: ");scanf("%s",nm);del(nm);break;
case 3: display();break;
case 4: save();exit(0);
default: printf("\n1-4 lang!\n");system("pause");
}
}
return 0;
}
void makenull(){
L.last = -1;
}
void insert(char n[31],int a){
if (isfull()){
printf("List is full.\n");
system("pause");
}
else {
L.last++;
strcpy(L.name[L.last],n);
L.age[L.last]=a;
}
}
void del(char n[31]){
int p;
if (isempty()){
printf("List is empty.\n");
system("pause");
}
else {
p=locate(n);
if (p==-1){
printf("Not found.\n");
system("pause");
}
else{
for(int i = p;i<L.last;i++){
strcpy(L.name[i],L.name[i+1]);
L.age[i]=L.age[i+1];
}
L.last--;
printf("Successful delete operation.\n");
system("pause");
}
}
}
void display(){
int i;
system("cls");
printf(" Name Age \n");
for(i=0;i<=L.last;i++)
printf("%d.) %s %d\n",i+1,L.name[i],L.age[i]);
system("pause");
}
int locate(char n[31]){
int i;
for (i=0;i<=L.last;i++)
if(strcmp(L.name[i],n)==0)
return i;
return -1;
}
int isfull(){
if (L.last==MAX-1)
return 1;
else
return 0;
}
int isempty(){
return(L.last==-1);
}
int menu(){
int op;
system("cls");
printf("MENU\n");
printf("1. Insert\n");
printf("2. Delete\n");
printf("3. Display\n");
printf("4. Exit\n");
printf("\nSelect(1-4): ");
scanf("%d",&op);
return(op);
}
void save(){
FILE *fp;
int i;
fp=fopen("Practice4.dbf","w+");
if (fp==NULL){
printf("File Error.\n");
system("pause");
}
else{
for (i=0;i<=L.last;i++)
fprintf(fp,"%s %d\n",L.name[i],L.age[i]);
}
fclose(fp);
}
void retrieve(){
FILE *fp;
char n[31];
int i,a;
fp=fopen("Practice4.dbf","r+");
if (fp==NULL){
printf("File Error.\n");
system("pause");
}
else {
while(!feof(fp)){
fscanf(fp,"%s %d\n",n,&a);
insert(n,a);
}
}
fclose(fp);
}
Your code isn't properly formatted and there are no comments. I can't give you a direct answer with some code in it, but summing up all my comments (and of course I deleted them), this is what I've to say:
Consider this scenario-
if your .dbf has more than MAX 50 elements, then your while (!feof(fp)) inside retrieve() will keep calling insert() and insert() will keep executing its if () { } block.
You should put something like while (!feof(fp) && L.last < MAX) to prevent that situation and you'll need to further modify your code in insert(). Another thing is, this code doesn't have any update() function and scores variable. You'll need to add scores in your struct as well as there must be scores fields in your .dbf.
Now, for a moment let's say everything else is good to go in your code, then you should follow these following steps:
Declare variables
char nameInput[31];
float ex_marks[3], sum = 0, avr = 0;
in main().
Add another case 5 in your switch () block inside main() and translate and convert the following pseudocode into C code:
Read name in nameInput
locate()
if found then
3.a for i = 0 to 2
Read marks in ex_marks[i]
sum = sum + ex_marks[i]
3.b Calculate avr = sum / 3
3.c Display name and avr
else
Display name is not in the list.
exit
Also read about why is while(!feof()) always wrong?

Having problems displaying structure array content

I want to display structure members based on user input, but I don't know if I've stored the input properly.
When I try display all people, it just outputs random numbers.
These are the structures and function prototypes
#define MAX_NAME_LEN 15
#define MAX_NUM_PERSON 4
#define MAX_JOB_LENGTH 20
typedef struct birth_date
{
int month;
int day;
int year;
} person_birth_t;
typedef struct person
{
char pName[MAX_NAME_LEN];
char job[MAX_JOB_LENGTH];
person_birth_t birth_t;
} person_t[MAX_NUM_PERSON];
void print_menu (void);
void scanPerson(person_t p, int);
void displayPeople(person_t p);
This is the main code for the program, a menu is printed asking user to input a number, if a user enters 1 then it prompts them to add a person. Entering 2 displays all people entered.
int main(void)
{
/* TODO */
print_menu();
return 0;
}
void print_menu (void)
{
int choice;
person_t p;
static int index = 0;
int *indexP = NULL;
indexP = &index;
/*Print the menu*/
scanf("%d", &choice);
switch (choice)
{
case 1:
if (index < MAX_NUM_PERSON){
scanPerson(p, index);
++*indexP;
print_menu();
} else {
printf("Can't add more people - memory full \n");
print_menu();
}
break;
case 2:
displayPeople(p);
break;
case 3:
exit(0);
break;
default:
print_menu();
}
}
/*function called when add person is chosen from menu */
void scanFlight(person_t p, int index){
/*printf to enter name*/
scanf(" %s", p[index].pName);
/*printf to enter job*/
scanf("%s", p[index].job);
}
void displayPeople(person_t p){
for(int i = 0; i < MAX_NUM_PERSON; i++){
printf("%s %d-%d-%d %s \n",p[i].pName
,p[i].birth_t.month
,p[i].birth_t.day
,p[i].birth_t.year
,p[i].job);
}
}
I've tried other ways to take input and add it to a struct array, but I'm just not sure how to do it right.
person_t p;
Here, you use the local variable p (in print_menu function), so each recursion, you just print the parameters of the local variable that is not initialized.
To solve it, you can declare p as the global variable.
OT, in scanFlight function, to avoid overflow, you should change the scanf function to:
/*printf to enter name*/
scanf("%14s", p[index].pName);
/*printf to enter job*/
scanf("%20s", p[index].job);
And, rename scanPerson to scanFlight, because i do not see any implementation of scanPerson function in your code. I think it's typo, no ?
None of the methods were working, so instead of trying to figure it out, I scrapped the static index and indexP.
Instead, I initialized p with malloc:
person_t *p= malloc(MAX_NUM_PERSON * sizeof(person_t));
I changed the scan function to accommodate for the change and made index a pointer instead, and I made the display function pass the index.
When I ran it, the output was correct.

How to approach and optimize code in C

I am new to C and very much interested in knowing how to approach any problem which has more than 3 or 4 functions, I always look at the output required and manipulate my code calling functions inside other functions and getting the required output.
Below is my logic for finding a students record through his Id first & then Username.
This code according to my professor has an excessive logic and is lacking in many ways, if someone could assist me in how should I approach any problem in C or in any other language it would be of great help for me as a beginner and yes I do write pseudo code first.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
typedef struct{
int id; //Assuming student id to be unique
int age;
char *userName; //Assuming student userName to be unique
char *dept;
}student; // Alias "student" created for struct
student* createstruct(); // All function prototype declared
student* createArray();
void addstruct(student* s2);
void searchChar(student* s2,int num);
void searchInt(student* s2,int num);
student* createstruct() // function createStruct() to malloc data of struct student.
{
student *s;
s = (student*)malloc(sizeof(student));
s->userName = (char*)malloc(sizeof(char)*32);
s->dept = (char*)malloc(sizeof(char)*32);
printf("please enter id ");
scanf("%d",&s->id);
printf("please enter age ");
scanf("%d",&s->age);
printf("please enter userName ");
scanf("%31s",s->userName);
printf("please enter department ");
scanf("%31s",s->dept);
printf("\n");
return s;
}
student* createArray()
{
student *arr; //declaration of arr poiter, type struct student
arr = (student*)malloc(sizeof(student)*10); // memory allocated for a size of 10
return arr;
}
void addstruct(student *s2) // function for adding data to the structures in array
{
int i,num;
student* s1;
printf("please enter the number of records to add:");
scanf("%d",&num);
printf("\n");
if(num>0 && num<11)
{
for(i=0;i<num;i++) // if user want to enter 5 records loop will only run 5 times
{
s1 = createstruct();
s2[i].id = s1->id; // traversing each element of array and filling in struct data
s2[i].age = s1->age;
s2[i].userName = s1->userName;
s2[i].dept= s1->dept;
}
}
else if(num>10) // if user enters more than 10
{
for(i=0;i<10;i++) // loop will still run only 10 times
{
s1 = createstruct();
s2[i].id = s1->id;
s2[i].age = s1->age;
s2[i].userName = s1->userName;
s2[i].dept = s1->dept;
}
printf("Array is full"); // Array is full after taking 10 records
printf("\n");
}
searchInt(s2,num); // Calling searchInt() function to search for an integer in records
searchChar(s2,num); // Calling searchChar() function to search for a string in records
free(s1);
free(s2);
}
void searchChar(student* s2,int num) // function for searching a string in records of structure
{
char *c;
int i;
c = (char*)malloc(sizeof(char)*32);
printf("please enter userName to search ");
scanf("%31s",c);
printf("\n");
for (i=0;i<num;i++) //num is the number of struct records entered by user
{
if ((strcmp(s2[i].userName,c)==0)) //using strcmp for comparing strings
{
printf("struct variables are %d, %d, %s, %s\n", s2[i].id,s2[i].age,s2[i].userName,s2[i].dept);
break;
}
else if(i == num-1)
{
printf("nothing in userName matches: <%s>\n",c);
break;
}
}
}
void searchInt(student* s2,int num) //searchs for an integer and prints the entire structure
{
int i,z;
printf("please enter id to search ");
scanf("%d",&z);
printf("\n");
for (i=0;i<num;i++)
{
if (s2[i].id == z)
{
printf("struct variables are %d, %d, %s, %s\n\n", s2[i].id,s2[i].age,s2[i].userName,s2[i].dept);
break;
}
else if(i == num-1)
{
printf("nothing in id matches: <%d>\n\n",z);
break;
}
}
}
int main(void)
{
student *s2;
s2 = createArray();
addstruct(s2);
return 0;
}
I'm not going to go into optimizing, because if you wanted better theoretical performance you would probably go with different data structures, such as ordered arrays/lists, trees, hash tables or some kind of indexing... None of that is relevant in this case, because you have a simple program dealing with a small amount of data.
But I am going to tell you about the "excessive logic" your professor mentioned, taking your searchInt function as an example:
for (i=0;i<num;i++)
{
if (s2[i].id == z)
{
printf("struct variables are %d, %d, %s, %s\n\n", s2[i].id,s2[i].age,s2[i].userName,s2[i].dept);
break;
}
else if(i == num-1)
{
printf("nothing in id matches: <%d>\n\n",z);
break;
}
}
The thing here is that every time around the loop you're testing to see if you're at the last element in the loop. But the loop already does that. So you're doing it twice, and to make it worse, you're doing a subtraction (which may or may not be optimized into a register by the compiler).
What you would normally do is something like this:
int i;
student *s = NULL;
for( i = 0; i < num; i++ )
{
if( s2[i].id == z ) {
s = &s2[i];
break;
}
}
if( s != NULL ) {
printf( "struct variables are %d, %d, %s, %s\n\n",
s->id, s->age, s->userName, s->dept );
} else {
printf("nothing in id matches: <%d>\n\n",z);
}
See that you only need to have some way of knowing that the loop found something. You wait for the loop to finish before you test whether it found something.
In this case I used a pointer to indicate success, because I could then use the pointer to access the relevant record without having to index back into the array and clutter the code. You won't always use pointers.
Sometimes you set a flag, sometimes you store the array index, sometimes you just return from the function (and if the loop falls through you know it didn't find anything).
Programming is about making sensible choices for the problem you are solving. Only optimize when you need to, don't over-complicate a problem, and always try to write code that is easy to read/understand.

Sending "cls" to dos causes exception

Due to a problem posting, my last question (duplicate of this) was closed.
Background is provided at the end so you can get straight to the problem.
I have a text-based program to help learn vocabulary or anything else (basically simulates flash cards, but flashes up the ones you don't know more often). It seemed to work fine while I was testing it, until I got fed up of the constant backlog of text on the screen, so I implemented a (somewhat unportable) clear screen routine.
Then it started throwing up exceptions, and I put in all sorts of debugging code to try and track it down.
Well... I managed to narrow it down to the following command on line 445:
system("cls");
How can this command cause an exception? Does anyone know a workaround?
I've run this in command prompts on both Windows Vista and Windows 7 with the same result.
Complete source in case anyone wants to compile it themselves or take a look through:
#include <time.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <process.h>
#include <ctype.h>
#include <string.h>
#define DINPUTFILENAME "vtdb.~sv"
#define DOUTPUTFILENAME "vtdb.~sv"
#define MAXINTVALUE 2147483647
#define MAXTEXTLENGTH 256
#define N2LTONORM 5
#define NORMTON2L 3
#define NORMTOKNOWN 5
#define KNOWNTONORM 2
#define KNOWNTOOLD 2
#define OLDTONORM 1
struct vocab
{
int index; //identifies the entry in the list, allowing it to be selected by use of a random number
char * question;//pointer to question text
char * answer;//pointer to the answer text, which is required for the response to be considered correct
char * info;//pointer to optional extra text giving advice such as to how to format the response
char * hint;//pointer to optional text giving a clue to the answer
int right;//indicates whether counter is counting correct or incorrect responses
int counter;//counts how many times in a row the answer has been correct/incorrect
int known;//indicates to what level the vocab is known, and thus to which list it belongs (when loading/saving)
struct vocab * next;//pointer to next in list
};
struct listinfo//struct holds head, tail and the number of entries for the n2l, norm, known and old lists
{
struct vocab * head;
int entries;
struct vocab * tail;
};
struct listinfo n2l, norm, known, old;
int n2l_flag; //Prevents 'need to learn's coming up twice in a row
int maxtextlength = MAXTEXTLENGTH; //allows use of this #define within text strings
FILE * inputfile;
FILE * outputfile;
void getrecordsfromfile(char * inputfilename,char separator);//load
char * readtextfromfile(int maxchars,char separator);//get text field from file
int readnumberfromfile(int maxvalue,char separator);//get integer field from file
struct vocab * addtolist(struct vocab * newentry, struct listinfo * list);//add given (already filled in) vocab record to given list
int removefromlist(struct vocab * entry, struct listinfo * list,int freeup);//remove given entry from given list. Also destroy record if freeup is true
void reindex (struct listinfo * list);//necessary to stop gaps in the numbering system, which could cause random vocab selection to fail
int writeliststofile();//save
void testme();//main code for learning vocab, including options menu
char * gettextfromkeyboard(char * target,int maxchars);//set given string (char pointer) from keyboard, allocating memory if necessary
int getyesorno();//asks for yes or no, returns true (1) if yes
void testrandom();//code keeps causing exceptions, and as it's so random, I'm guessing it's to do with the random numbers
void getrecordsfromfile(char * inputfilename,char separator)
{
int counter = 0;
struct vocab * newvocab;
struct listinfo * newvocablist;
if (!(inputfile = fopen(inputfilename, "r")))
{
printf("Unable to read input file. File does not exist or is in use.\n");
}
else
{
printf("Opened input file %s, reading contents...\n",inputfilename);
while (!feof(inputfile))
{
newvocab = (struct vocab *)malloc(sizeof(struct vocab));
if (!newvocab)
{
printf("Memory allocation failed!\n");
return;
}
else
{
newvocab->question=readtextfromfile(MAXTEXTLENGTH,separator);
newvocab->answer=readtextfromfile(MAXTEXTLENGTH,separator);
newvocab->info=readtextfromfile(MAXTEXTLENGTH,separator);
newvocab->hint=readtextfromfile(MAXTEXTLENGTH,separator);
newvocab->right=readnumberfromfile(1,separator);
newvocab->counter=readnumberfromfile(0,separator);
newvocab->known=readnumberfromfile(3,separator);
switch (newvocab->known)
{
case 0: newvocablist = &n2l;break;
case 1: newvocablist = &norm;break;
case 2: newvocablist = &known;break;
case 3: newvocablist = &old;break;
}
addtolist(newvocab,newvocablist);
if (newvocab->question==NULL||newvocab->answer==NULL)
{
printf("Removing empty vocab record created from faulty input file...\n");
removefromlist(newvocab,newvocablist,1);
}
else counter++;
}
}
fclose(inputfile);
printf("...finished.\n%i entries read from %s.\n\n",counter,inputfilename);
}
return;
}
char * readtextfromfile(int maxchars,char separator)
{
int i=0;
char ch;
char * target = (char *)malloc(maxchars+1); //allocate memory for new string
if (!target) {printf("Memory allocation failed!\n");return 0;}//return 0 and print error if alloc failed
ch=getc(inputfile);
if (ch==separator){free(target);return NULL;}//if field is blank (zero-length), return null pointer
while (isspace(ch))
{
ch = getc(inputfile);//cycle forward until you reach text
if (ch == separator||ch=='\n'||ch==EOF) {free(target);return NULL;}//if no text found(reached ~ before anything else), return null pointer
}
if (ch=='"') //Entry is in quotes (generated by excel when exporting to .csv and field contains a comma)
{
ch=getc(inputfile);//move to next character after the quotes
while (i<maxchars && ch!='"' && ch!='\n')//stop when you reach the end quotes, end of line, or when text too long
{
target[i++]=ch;
ch = getc(inputfile); //copy name from file to target, one char at a time
}
}
else //entry is not in quotes, so char is currently first letter of string
{
while (i<maxchars && ch!=separator && ch!='\n')//stop when you reach separator, end of line, or when text too long
{
target[i++]=ch;
ch = getc(inputfile); //copy name from file to target, one char at a time
}
}
target[i] = '\0';//terminate string
return target;
}
int readnumberfromfile (int maxvalue,char separator)
{
int number, i=0;
char ch;
char * buff = (char *)malloc(11);
if (!buff) {printf("Memory allocation failed!\n");return 0;}//return 0 and print error if alloc failed
if (!maxvalue) maxvalue=MAXINTVALUE;
ch=getc(inputfile);
while (!isdigit(ch))
{
ch = getc(inputfile);//cycle forward until you reach a digit
if (ch == separator||ch=='\n'||ch==EOF) {printf("Format error in file\n");return 0;}//if no number found(reached ~ before digit), print error and return 0
}
while (i<11 && ch!=separator && ch!='\n')//stop when you reach '~', end of line, or when number too long
{
buff[i++]=ch;
ch = getc(inputfile); //copy number from file to buff, one char at a time
}
buff[i] = '\0';//terminate string
number = atoi(buff)<=maxvalue ? atoi(buff) : maxvalue;//convert string to number and make sure it's in range
free(buff);
return number;
}
struct vocab * addtolist(struct vocab * newentry, struct listinfo * list)
{
if (!list->head)//if head is null, there is no list, so create one
{
list->head = list->tail = newentry;//this is the new head and tail
list->entries = newentry->index = 1;
newentry->next = NULL;// FISH! not sure if this is necessary, but just be sure...
}
else//just appending to the list
{
list->tail->next = newentry;//adjust current tail to point to new entry
list->tail = newentry;//make the new entry the new tail
newentry->index=++list->entries;
newentry->next = NULL;
}
return newentry;
}
int removefromlist(struct vocab * entry, struct listinfo * list,int freeup)
{
struct vocab * prev;
if (list->head == entry) //if entry being deleted is first in the list
{
if (list->tail == entry) //if entry is only item in the list
{
list->head = list->tail = NULL;
}
else //if first in list, but not last
{
list->head = entry->next;
}
}
else //entry is not first in list, so set prev to point to previous entry
{
prev = list->head;
while (prev->next!=entry)
{
prev=prev->next;
if (!prev)
{
printf("Trying to delete an entry from a list it's not in!!\n");
return 0;
}
}
if (list->tail == entry)//if entry is at the end of the list
{
list->tail = prev;
list->tail->next = NULL;
}
else //if entry is somewhere in middle of list
{
prev->next=entry->next;
}
}//this entry is now not pointed to in any list
list->entries--;
/*following line removed because it could theoretically break a list if the entry was removed from a list after it had been added to another
entry->next = NULL;//and doesn't point to anything either*/
reindex(list);
if (freeup) //if freeup is set, this also wipes the record and frees up the memory associated with it
{
free(entry->question);
free(entry->answer);
free(entry->info);
free(entry->hint);
free(entry);
}
return 1;
}
void reindex (struct listinfo * list)
{
int counter = 1;
struct vocab * workingentry = list->head;
while (workingentry)
{
workingentry->index = counter++;
workingentry=workingentry->next;
}
if (list->entries!=counter-1) printf("Reindexing Error!\n");
}
int writeliststofile()
{
int i,counter=0;
struct listinfo * list;
struct vocab * entry;
if (!(outputfile = fopen(DOUTPUTFILENAME, "w")))
{
printf ("Error accessing output file!\n");
return 0;
}
else
{
printf("Saving...\n");
for (i=0;i<=3;i++)
{
switch (i)
{
case 0: list = &n2l;break;
case 1: list = &norm;break;
case 2: list = &known;break;
case 3: list = &old;break;
default: printf("Loop Error!\n");break;
}
entry=list->head;
while (entry!=NULL)
{
if (counter) fprintf(outputfile,"\n");
fprintf(outputfile,"%s~%s~%s~%s~%i~%i~%i",entry->question,entry->answer,entry->info,entry->hint,entry->right,entry->counter,i);
entry=entry->next;
counter++;
}
}
fclose(outputfile);
printf("...finished. %i entries saved.\n",counter);
return 1;
}
}
void testme()
{
int list_selector, entry_selector, bringupmenu = 0, testagain=1;
char testmenuchoice = '\n';
char * youranswer = (char *)malloc(MAXTEXTLENGTH+1);
struct listinfo * currentlist;
struct vocab * currententry;
if (!youranswer) {printf("Memory allocation error!\n");return;}
while (testagain)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Start of 'testagain' loop\nClearing screen...\n");
system("cls");
//select a list at random, using the percentage probabilities in the if statements. FISH! Can this be done with a switch and ranges?
fprintf(stderr,"Assigning list selector to random value...");
list_selector = (((float)rand() / 32768) * 100)+1;
fprintf(stderr,"assigned list selector value %i\nAssigning list pointer...",list_selector);
if (list_selector<33) currentlist = &n2l;
if (list_selector>32&&list_selector<95) {n2l_flag=0;currentlist=&norm;} //use norm list and cancel n2l flag (not cancelled with other lists)
if (list_selector>94&&list_selector<100) currentlist = &known;
if (list_selector==100) currentlist = &old;
fprintf(stderr,"assigned list pointer %x\nModifying pointer...",currentlist);
//do a little control over random selection
if (currentlist==&n2l && n2l_flag) {currentlist=&norm; n2l_flag=0;} //if n2l list was used last time as well (flag is set), use entry from the norm list instead
if (currentlist==&n2l) n2l_flag = 1; //is using n2l this time, set flag so it won't be used next time as well
if (currentlist->entries==0) currentlist = &norm;//if current list is empty, default to normal list
if (currentlist->entries==0 && !n2l_flag) currentlist = &n2l;//if normal list is empty, try n2l list if it wasn't used last time
if (currentlist->entries==0 && list_selector%10==5) currentlist = &old;//if list is still empty, in 10% of cases try old list
if (currentlist->entries==0) currentlist = &known;//in the other 90% of cases, or if old is empty, use the known list
if (currentlist->entries==0) currentlist = &old;//if known list is empty, try the old list
if (currentlist->entries==0) {currentlist = &n2l;n2l_flag=1;}//if old list is empty, use n2l list EVEN if it was used last time
if (currentlist->entries==0) {printf("No entries in list!");return;} //if list is STILL empty, abort
fprintf(stderr,"modified list pointer\nAssigning entry selector...");
//we now have the desired list of words with at least one entry, let's select an entry at random from this list
entry_selector = (((float)rand() / 32767) * currentlist->entries)+1;
fprintf(stderr,"assigned entry selector value %i\nAssignig pointer...",entry_selector);
currententry = currentlist->head;
fprintf(stderr,"set entry pointer to head, going to loop to it...\n");
while (currententry->index!=entry_selector)
{
currententry = currententry->next;//move through list until index matches the random number
if (currententry==NULL) {printf("Indexing error!\nCurrent list selector: %i, entries: %i, entry selector: %i\n",list_selector,currentlist->entries,entry_selector);return;}//in case not found in list
}
fprintf(stderr,"Looped, testing.\n");
printf("Translate the following:\n\n\t%s\n\n",currententry->question);
if (!currententry->info) printf("There is no additional information for this entry.\n");
else printf("Useful Info: %s\n\n",currententry->info);
printf("Your Translation:\n\n\t");
gettextfromkeyboard(youranswer,MAXTEXTLENGTH);
if (!strcmp(youranswer,currententry->answer))//if you're right
{
printf("Yay!\n");
if(currententry->right) currententry->counter++;
else currententry->right = currententry->counter = 1;
if (currententry->counter>2) printf("You answered correctly the last %i times in a row!\n",currententry->counter);
//make comments based on how well it's known, and move to a higher list if appropriate
if (currentlist==&n2l && currententry->counter>=N2LTONORM)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("Looks like you know this one a little better now!\nIt will be brought up less frequently.\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&norm);
}
if (currentlist==&norm && currententry->counter>=NORMTOKNOWN)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("Looks like you know this one now!\nIt will be brought up much less frequently.\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&known);
}
if (currentlist==&known && currententry->counter>=KNOWNTOOLD)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("OK! So this one's well-learnt.\nIt probably won't be brought up much any more.\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&old);
}
}
else //if you're wrong
{
printf("\nSorry, the correct answer is:\n\n\t%s\n\n",currententry->answer);
if(!currententry->right) currententry->counter++;
else {currententry->right = 0; currententry->counter = 1;}
if (currententry->counter>1) printf("You've got this one wrong the last %i times.\n",currententry->counter);
if (currentlist==&norm && currententry->counter>=NORMTON2L)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("This one could do with some learning...\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&n2l);
}
if (currentlist==&known && currententry->counter>=KNOWNTONORM)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("OK, perhaps you don't know this one as well as you once did...\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&norm);
}
if (currentlist==&old && currententry->counter>=OLDTONORM)
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
printf("This old one caught you out, huh? It will be brought up a few more times to help you remember it.\n");
currententry->counter = 0;
addtolist(currententry,&norm);
}
}
fprintf(stderr,"Tested, options menu?\n");
printf("Type 'o' for options or strike enter for another question\n");
testmenuchoice = getchar();
fprintf(stderr,"Got choice\n");
if (tolower(testmenuchoice)=='o') bringupmenu = 1;
fprintf(stderr,"set menuflag\n");
if (testmenuchoice!='\n') while (getchar()!='\n')getchar();
fprintf(stderr,"cleared getchar\n");
while (bringupmenu)
{
system("cls");
printf("Current Entry:\n\nQuestion: %s\nAnswer: '%s'\n",currententry->question,currententry->answer);
if (currententry->info) printf("Info: %s\n",currententry->info); else printf("No info.\n");
if (currententry->hint) printf("Hint: %s\n\n",currententry->hint); else printf("No hint.\n\n");
printf("Options Menu:\n\nType q to modify the question phrase displayed for translation.\nType a to change the answer phrase you must provide.\nType i to add/modify additional info for this entry.\nType h to add/modify the hint for this entry.\nType p to mark this entry as high priority to learn.\nType d to delete this entry from the database.\nType x to end testing and return to the main menu.\n\n");
testmenuchoice=getchar();
while (getchar()!='\n') getchar();
switch (testmenuchoice)
{
case 'q': printf("Enter new question text for this entry (max %i chars):\n",maxtextlength);
currententry->question=gettextfromkeyboard(currententry->question,MAXTEXTLENGTH);
break;
case 'a': printf("Enter new answer text for this entry (max %i chars):\n",maxtextlength);
currententry->answer=gettextfromkeyboard(currententry->answer,MAXTEXTLENGTH);
break;
case 'i': printf("Enter new info for this entry (max %i chars):\n",maxtextlength);
currententry->info=gettextfromkeyboard(currententry->info,MAXTEXTLENGTH);
break;
case 'h': printf("Enter new hint for this entry (max %i chars):\n",maxtextlength);
currententry->hint=gettextfromkeyboard(currententry->hint,MAXTEXTLENGTH);
break;
case 'p': if(currentlist=&n2l)printf("Already marked as priority!\n");
else
{
removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,0);
currententry->counter = 0;
currentlist=&n2l;
addtolist(currententry,currentlist);
printf("Entry will be brought up more often\n");
}
break;
case 'd': printf("Are you sure you want to delete this entry?\nOnce you save, this will be permanent!(y/n)");
if (getyesorno()) {removefromlist(currententry,currentlist,1);printf("Entry deleted!\n");bringupmenu=0;}
else printf("Entry was NOT deleted.\n");
break;
case 'x': bringupmenu = testagain = 0;
break;
default: printf("Invalid choice.\n");
}
if (bringupmenu)
{
printf("Select again from the options menu? (y/n)");
bringupmenu = getyesorno();
}
if (!bringupmenu&&testagain)
{
printf("Continue testing? (y/n)");
testagain = getyesorno();
}
}
fprintf(stderr,"End of 'testagain' loop.\n Clearing Screen...");
system("cls");
}
free(youranswer);
// getchar();
return;
}
char * gettextfromkeyboard(char * target,int maxchars)
{
int i =0;
char ch;
if (!target)//if no memory already allocated (pointer is NULL), do it now
{
target=(char *)malloc(maxchars+1);
if (!target) {printf("Memory allocation failed!");return NULL;} //return null if failed
}
ch = getchar();
if (ch=='\n') {free(target);return NULL;}//if zero length, free mem and return null pointer
while (!isalnum(ch))//cycle forward past white space
{
ch=getchar();
if (ch=='\n') {free(target);return NULL;}//if all white space, free mem and return null pointer
}
while (ch!='\n' && i<maxchars)
{
target[i++]=ch;
ch=getchar();
}
target[i]='\0';
return target;
}
int getyesorno()
{
char yesorno = '\n';
while (toupper(yesorno)!='Y'&&toupper(yesorno)!='N')
{
yesorno=getchar();
if (toupper(yesorno)!='Y'&&toupper(yesorno)!='N') printf("Invalid choice. You must enter Y or N:\n");
}
while (getchar()!='\n') getchar();
if (toupper(yesorno)=='Y') return 1;
else return 0;
}
void testrandom()
{
return;
}
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
char * inputfilename = DINPUTFILENAME;
char * outputfilename = DOUTPUTFILENAME;
char separator = '~';
char menuchoice = '\0';
n2l.entries = norm.entries = known.entries = old.entries = 0;
srand((unsigned)time(NULL));
fprintf(stderr,"Start...\n");
printf("Loading...\nLoad default database? (y/n)");
if (!getyesorno())
{
printf("Default file type is .~sv. Import .csv file instead? (y/n)");
if (getyesorno())
{
separator = ',';
printf("Enter name of .csv file to import:\n");
}
else
{
printf("Enter name of .~sv file to load:\n");
}
inputfilename = gettextfromkeyboard(inputfilename,256);
}
getrecordsfromfile(inputfilename,separator);
while (menuchoice!='x')
{
printf("Welcome to the Vocab Test, version C!\n\nMain menu:\n\n\tt: Test Me!\n\ts: Save\n\tx: Exit\n\n");
menuchoice = getchar();
while (getchar()!='\n') getchar();
switch (tolower(menuchoice))
{
case 'x': break;
case 't': testme(); break;
case 's': writeliststofile();break;
case 'w': testrandom(); break;
default: printf("Invalid choice. Please try again.\n"); break;
}
system("cls");
}
system("cls");
printf("Bye for now!\n\nPress enter to exit.");
getchar();
fprintf(stderr,"Successfully closed\n");
return 0;
}
I tried adding the output of stderr on a typical run, but it makes the body too long. Also tried adding it as an answer, but:
Users with less than 100 reputation can't answer their own question for 8 hours after asking. You may self-answer in 7 hours. Until then please use comments, or edit your question instead.
Background: I made my first foray into programming earlier this year, and decided I wanted to start with C before moving on to C++, Java, and perhaps Python and C#.
To get me started in C, after the obligatory hello world, I wrote a small game (text based, also including the "cls" command), and then moved onto this little vocab tester, which was to help me learn Indonesian while I was away in Austria speaking German :-D. I eventually got exasperated at the cls crash and haven't programmed since. I really want to pick it back up, so I'm starting here with this question.
Have you tried printing '\f'? That's the "formfeed" character.
EDIT: I've had a closer look at your code, and there's some stuff going on that I don't like. :-)
For example, in gettextfromkeyboard, if you enter only whitespace, it'll free target, even if that was non-NULL on entry.
In this line:
inputfilename = gettextfromkeyboard(inputfilename,256);
it passes inputfilename, which points to a constant string, into gettextfromkeyboard. Trying to free that is a bad idea.
I also have my doubts about while (getchar()!='\n') getchar();.
Suppose the input is "ABC\n".
The condition will consume and return 'A', the body of the loop will consume 'B', the condition will consume and return 'C', and the body of the loop will consume '\n'.
Try one of the many curses, ncurses, etc. packages around. There should be one somewhere on the web for your version of C, if it is not too uncommon. It should handle all kinds of text screen functionality, including clearing the screen and it is pretty portable.
Possibly system('cls') has been deprecated? Here is another way of doing it.
The code runs fine for me and the CLS command works. Non-reproduceable crashes often indicate memory corruption. I'd say a good place to look first is your readtextfromfile function since it will overwrite the input buffer if a file contains 256 chars.

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