Can someone help me with the following C example?

purpleburple · 09-28-2002, 01:55 PM

Hi. I am just learning structures and in the following gcc keeps giving me a parse error for line 11.
fio.c:11: parse error before `.'

the code is >

#include <stdio.h>

struct coord
{
int x;
int y;
};

struct coord first;

first.x = 50;
first.y = 70;

int main(void)
{

printf("x = %d and y = %d\n", first.x, first.y);

return 0;

I don't see a parse error on or before line 11. Is there something else I'm doing wrong here?

thanks you

frustrated

acid_kewpie · 09-28-2002, 02:04 PM

You can't do those assignments outside of a method, it's not the same as just plaing declaring a variable, move it inside the main() sub.

Mara · 09-28-2002, 02:08 PM

Here you have versions that work:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

struct coord
{
int x;
int y;
};

struct coord first;

int main(void)
{
first.x = 50;
first.y = 70;

printf("x = %d and y = %d\n", first.x, first.y);

return 0;

};

or

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

struct coord
{
int x;
int y;
};

struct coord first={50,70};

int main(void)
{

printf("x = %d and y = %d\n", first.x, first.y);

return 0;

};

acid_kewpie · 09-28-2002, 02:20 PM

heh, you don't like making them think do you mara?

Mara · 09-28-2002, 02:33 PM

? It's just easier to copy a code than to write what to do. I write faster in C than in any other language.

purpleburple · 09-28-2002, 02:50 PM

thanks alot acid and Mara

Is there a book that explains things like 'WHY' I can't put these assignments outside of main() etc. The books I have give examples of things in a simplistic way without explaining the 'whys' of things.

Are there any "REALLY INDEPTH" C books out there that I could buy?

Mara · 09-28-2002, 04:19 PM

Maybe not 100% accurate, but I suppose it explanin this case: you can use instructions only in functions.

Code:

first.x = 50;
first.y = 70;

is a pair of instructions, so it cannot be outside a function.
From the other hand,

Code:

struct coord first={50,70};

is not an instruction, it's a declaration with values, so it can be outside main().

purpleburple · 09-28-2002, 11:37 PM

thamks Mara