Reading an array with floating point numbers (C programming language)

Question

I am creating a function to read in inputs from the user and put them into a floating point array of numbers with predetermined fix size of 25. It also returns the total amount of items that the user enters. However, for some reason this code will not terminate when I enter 999. I know it is something to do with that it is an int and input is a float, but I don't really know how to fix this (only been learning C for five days).

int readArray(float a[]){
    //accepts inputs and puts items in a predefined array of size 25    
    int index = 0;
    float input;
    printf("Enter 25 or less elements for array (999 to finish):\n");

    scanf("%d", &input);  //accept initial response; priming prompt
    printf("1st Prompt accepted");

    while (input != 999 && index < 25) {
        printf("In while loop");

        a[index] = input;
        index++;
        scanf("%d", &input);
    }
    return (index);

}

Oh just realized, the two prints: printf("1st Prompt accepted"); and printf("In while loop"); are just debug code. — Jared
– Jared, Commented Apr 28, 2013 at 2:58

Rüppell's Vulture · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-28 03:09:35Z

6

The proper format specifier matters a lot here.For float it is %f.So change your scanf() to

scanf("%f", &input);

edited Apr 28, 2013 at 3:09

answered Apr 28, 2013 at 3:02

Rüppell's Vulture

3,6638 gold badges37 silver badges49 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Rüppell's Vulture Over a year ago

To the downvoter, I dare you to accept float numbers in C using %d format specifier for scanf().Tell me how on earth it's possible to use %d for floats and I'll give up C and go to Afghanistan and grow poppy there.

Rüppell's Vulture Over a year ago

@NikBougalis Please confirm that 999 is promoted to float before the comparison in input!=999 and that's why there is no issue with the expression and the program works fine.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Reading an array with floating point numbers (C programming language)

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related