How can I initialize an array of pointers pointing to a struct?

Question

I have the following struct:

struct clientDetails 
{
    int socket;  
    char* port;
    char* IP;
    char* hostName;
    int msgSentCount;
    int msgRecvCount;
    char* status;
    char bufferMsg[BUFFER_SIZE];
    char blockedUser[4];
    int blockedCount;   
};

And I have an array of pointers:

struct clientDetails* allClients[4];

How can I initialize all the array elements of allClients to have default values?

I have tried the following but I am getting 'incomplete definition of type struct':

for(int i = 0; i<4; i++) {
        allClients[i]->socket = 0;  
        allClients[i]->port = NULL;
        allClients[i]->IP = NULL;
        allClients[i]->hostName = NULL;
        allCLients[i]->msgSentCount = 0;
        allClients[i]->msgRecvCount = 0;    
        allClients[i]->status = NULL;
        allClients[i]->bufferMsg = "";
        allClients[i]->blockedUser = {"","","",""};
        allClients[i]->blockedCount = 0;    
}

On what line is the error? Provide a minimal self-containing example, so we could reproduce the problem. — Drop
– Drop, Commented Oct 7, 2017 at 16:10
You can initialize a pointer by making it point to something. BTW: Are you using a C++compiler? — wildplasser
– wildplasser, Commented Oct 7, 2017 at 16:12
This: 'allClients[i]->blockedUser = {"","","",""};' is initializing with four empty strings rather than four chars. — Martin James
– Martin James, Commented Oct 7, 2017 at 16:30

zzyzy · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-07 16:12:42Z

2

For one thing, you need to allocate storage for that struct... right now all you have a single pointer. Right at the top of your loop, you should do something like:

allClients[i] = malloc(sizeof(clientDetails));

It's been a while since I've done structs in "C", but you could/should probably typedef your struct as well.

answered Oct 7, 2017 at 16:12

zzyzy

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1 Comment

zzyzy Over a year ago

Actually, if you use calloc (instead of malloc) all this initialization in your case is done for you.

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