Slight problem with grouping a set of numbers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a coding issue related to reading and grouping a set of numbers from a file in C. Participants explore potential errors in the code, including data type mismatches and uninitialized variables, while suggesting improvements and alternative approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests printing the value of `num` before the switch statement to verify if the numbers are being read correctly.
  • Another participant points out that there is a mix of data types, noting that casting a float to an int may lead to rounding down decimal numbers, and highlights the incorrect use of character literals in the switch statement.
  • Concerns are raised about the variable `nmax` not being initialized, which could lead to undefined behavior.
  • A later reply provides an alternative code example that includes error checking and a more readable way to assign values to the group array, while also addressing some of the issues previously mentioned.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the presence of multiple issues in the original code, but there is no consensus on a single solution or approach. Different perspectives on how to handle the data types and file reading persist.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of initialization for `nmax`, potential issues with data type conversions, and the need for error handling when reading from the file. The discussion does not resolve these issues definitively.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in C programming, file handling, and debugging techniques may find this discussion relevant.

Cinimod
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For some reason, the code I has compiles, but it just doesn't seem to do what it should. The code I have atm, involves opening a file of numbers, reading the numbers, and sorting them into groups.

Code:
int nmax;               // This is the number of lines in the file
int i;                     // Index
float num; groups[15];

// File is opened - I know that's not where the error is
FILE *file;
file = fopen("log.txt", "r");

for(i=0; i<nmax; i++)
{
fscanf(file, "%f\n", &num);

switch((int)num)
{
case '0': groups[0]++; break;
case '1': groups[1]++; break;
/* etc... */
}
}

Any ideas why it doesn't work. When I use another loop to print the values of groups to the screen, all the elements of the array are zero. which I think is rather odd.
 
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First off, it would help if before switch()ing you'd printf out the value of num. That way you'd know at least whether the numbers are being read in correctly.

Second off, it kind of seems like you're mixing three different kinds of things. You're reading in a float, then casting it to an int (which is okay, but will cause you to always round decimal numbers down), but then in your switch statement you check against things like case '0' and case '1'? '0' is not equal to 0, it's a char ascii value and it's equal to like 65 or something.

Also I don't see nmax being set anywhere?!
 
Last edited:
Coin said:
First off, it would help if before switch()ing you'd printf out the value of num. That way you'd know at least whether the numbers are being read in correctly.

Second off, it kind of seems like you're mixing three different kinds of things. You're reading in a float, then casting it to an int (which is okay, but will cause you to always round decimal numbers down), but then in your switch statement you check against things like case '0' and case '1'? '0' is not equal to 0, it's a char ascii value and it's equal to like 65 or something.

Also I don't see nmax being set anywhere?!

Coin's answers is very good!

to Cinimod :
there are no case matched if you use the switch (*some type of int*)
than case: '1'.
note that: '1' is a char who's size is ONE BYTE.
and an int type always occupise FOUR BYTES.
they are obviously different!
 
Giving you code is not the best idea but there are several issues with your code.
This example reads freely from log.txt until it reaches either end of file or it has trouble converting the input. It does rudimentary error checking. It also assigns the group array in a more readable way. coin pointed out some of these issues.
Code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define NMAX 25
#define ck(X) \
  if((X)==NULL){ perror("input file error"); \
  exit(1);}

int main()
{
	int groups[NMAX+1]={0};
	FILE *in=fopen("log.txt","r");
	float value=0.;
	
             ck(in);   /* make sure we have a file to read */
	while (fscanf(in,"%f\n", &value)> 0) /* read until EOF or problems */
	{		
		if((int)value<=NMAX) /* limit check the values so you do not exceed array bounds */
			groups[(int)value]++;
	}
	for(int i=0; i<NMAX; i++)
		printf("%3d groups: %3d\n", i, groups[i]);
	fclose(in);
	return 0;	
}
 

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