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Unbounded Arrays and the sizeof operator

stephen phillips

I take it using sizeof() on a array that is unbounded is a problem (I am getting sizeof returns size of type 0 warnings).

I have defined a constant array of pointers unbounded IE

#define CCHARPTR code char *
CCHARPTR numerous_strings[] =
{
"string1",
"string2",
"string3.5"
};


If I wished to know the number of entries in numerous_strings I thought I could do this

(sizeof(numerous_strings)/sizeof(CCHARPTR))


Obviously I was wrong since the compiler warns sizeof(numerous_strings) is zero. How can I get the size of this array because I would like to save time in having to write a 'magic' number for the number of numerous_strings. Sounds simple, unbounded arrays seem to be what it has issues with. Suggestions anyone?

Parents
  • 0 in reply to stephen phillips

    Another way to approach the problem would be with a little bit of preprocessing. Here's what I mean:

    1. List your numerous strings in a plain old text file, with one string on each line. To match the example you gave, the file would look like this:

    "string1",
"string2",
"string3.5"

    2. #include this file in your C program, thus:

    CCHARPTR numerous_strings[] =
{
#include "mystrings.txt"
};

    3. Write a small program that counts the strings in the text file and spits out a tiny header file containing something like

    #define NUMBER_OF_NUMEROUS_STRINGS      3

    4. #include the header file wherever you need to.

    5. Set up your build environment (makefile, batch files, IDE, or whatever) to run the C program just before each build.

    This is probably overkill for what you are doing, but the general technique can be extremely useful in more complicated situations.

    -- Russ

Reply
  • 0 in reply to stephen phillips

    Another way to approach the problem would be with a little bit of preprocessing. Here's what I mean:

    1. List your numerous strings in a plain old text file, with one string on each line. To match the example you gave, the file would look like this:

    "string1",
"string2",
"string3.5"

    2. #include this file in your C program, thus:

    CCHARPTR numerous_strings[] =
{
#include "mystrings.txt"
};

    3. Write a small program that counts the strings in the text file and spits out a tiny header file containing something like

    #define NUMBER_OF_NUMEROUS_STRINGS      3

    4. #include the header file wherever you need to.

    5. Set up your build environment (makefile, batch files, IDE, or whatever) to run the C program just before each build.

    This is probably overkill for what you are doing, but the general technique can be extremely useful in more complicated situations.

    -- Russ

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