NULL returns every time?

This is a discussion on NULL returns every time? within the C Programming forums, part of the General Programming Boards category; Hi, I have a code which takes some arrays and pointers for a linked list but returns every time NULL ...

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2011

    NULL returns every time?


    I have a code which takes some arrays and pointers for a linked list but returns every time NULL for head. I couldn't find a solution for it.

    Can you help me about this?


    (I added my function)

    int read_score(struct all_answers *curr, struct all_answers *head_t, struct all_answers *tail, int pick[], int guess[]){
      pm_unit pm_unit_0;
      pm_unit_0 = score(pick, guess);
      printf("%d %d %d %d %d %d => +%d -%d\n", count, guess[0], guess[1], guess[2], guess[3], guess[4],, pm_unit_0.minus);
      answer[5] =; answer[6] = pm_unit_0.minus;
      answer[0] = guess[0]; answer[1] = guess[1]; answer[2] = guess[2]; answer[3] = guess[3]; answer[4] = guess[4];
      curr = (struct all_answers *)malloc(sizeof(struct all_answers));
      curr->answer_list[6] = answer[6];
      curr->answer_list[5] = answer[5];
      curr->answer_list[4] = answer[4];
      curr->answer_list[3] = answer[3];
      curr->answer_list[2] = answer[2];
      curr->answer_list[1] = answer[1];
      curr->answer_list[0] = answer[0];
      printf("curr->answer_list[4]: %d\n", curr->answer_list[4]);
      if(head_t == NULL){
        printf("NULL returned inside read_score for head\n");
        head_t = curr;
        curr->prev = NULL;
        if(head_t == NULL)
        printf("head returned NULL after assignment\n");
        tail->next = curr;
        curr->prev = tail;
      tail = curr;
      curr->next = NULL;
      printf("tail->answer_list[4]: %d\n", tail->answer_list[4]);
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by Salem; 05-26-2011 at 05:25 AM. Reason: Inline the code

  2. #2
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    You cannot pass anything to a function and expect to change that thing's value. You have to use a pointer to that type. So if you want your function to fill up the head pointer if it's NULL, then you need a pointer to that type:
    void fill( struct foo **x )
        if( x )
            *x = malloc( ... );
    struct foo *head = NULL;
    foo( &head );
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

  3. #3
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    The edge of the known universe
    If you want the head to change (and likewise the tail), you need to pass a pointer to a pointer.

    void foo ( int **p, int *q ) {
      *p = q;
    int main ( ) {
      int myInt;
      int *p = NULL;
      foo( &p, &myInt );
      return 0;
    Passing head (by value, as you are at the moment) means your local changes inside the function do NOT affect the caller.

    What he said ^^^
    I support as the first necessary step to a free Europe.

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