Example: scanf and char errors

Question

I am reading C for Dummies and am doing a example in the book. It told me to write it out line by line. Then it proceeds through the book even though the code has bugs. Here it is:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{

char me[20];
printf("What is your name?");
scanf("%s",&me);
printf("Darn glad to meet you. %s!\n".me);

return(0);

}

According to gcc:

WHORU.C: In function ‘int main()’: WHORU.C:8:19: warning: format ‘%s’ expects argument of type ‘char*’, but argument 2 has type ‘char (*)[20]’ [-Wformat] WHORU.C:9:43: error: request for member ‘me’ in ‘"Darn glad to meet you. %s!\012"’, which is of non-class type ‘const char [28]’

Because I am new to C, I can't really point out where I did wrong. I do know that this code requires input when it's executed. It's kinda like scanner in java.

Thanks guys.

P.P P.P · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-08T05:50:34

scanf("%s",&me);

Should be:

scanf("%s",me);

scanf() receives a pointer to the variable you passed. But in C, an array decays to pointer when passed, hence no need of &.

Another error is, you have a . in the printf which should be a ,.

printf("Darn glad to meet you. %s!\n".me);

should be:

printf("Darn glad to meet you. %s!\n",me);

Example: scanf and char errors

3 Answers