leo@atcmp.nl (Leo Willems) (08/11/89)
In `The C++ programming language' in r8.4.1 the following statement
puzzles me:
The declaration:
fseek(FILE*, long, int);
declares a function taking three arguments of the specified types.
SINCE NO RETURN TYPE IS SPECIFIED IT IS TAKEN TO BE INT.
I can understand this default behaviour in a function definition, in an
example with a declaration it fails:
main(){
int x;
function(int,int,int); // mark
int y;
function(1,2,3);
}
The marked line is flagged with a syntax error. Prepending `int' on that line
takes away the problem as expected.
It seems to me that I am using the book's example in the wrong context.
Can someone give me an example how to apply the fseek example correct?
Thanks.
Leo Willems Internet: leo@atcmp.nl
AT Computing UUCP: mcvax!hp4nl!kunivv1!atcmpe!leo
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The Netherlands Fax: +31-80-555887clyde@hitech.ht.oz (Clyde Smith-Stubbs) (08/14/89)
From article <534@atcmpe.atcmp.nl>, by leo@atcmp.nl (Leo Willems): > main(){ > int x; > function(int,int,int); // mark > int y; > > function(1,2,3); > } > > The marked line is flagged with a syntax error. Prepending `int' on that line > takes away the problem as expected. The reason that the compiler flags an error in this example is that it sees function( and presumes it to be a function call! It is necessary to place an explicit type specifier in front to ensure the compiler knows this is a declaration, not a statement. Where such a declaration occurs outside a function there is no ambiguity since a statement may occur only inside a function. Now for one of my hobby horses; putting extern declarations inside functions is a Bad Thing. It prevents the compiler checking your declaration against other declarations of the same thing, and serves no useful purpose anyway. Always put ALL extern declarations at the global level, i.e. outside any function. -- Clyde Smith-Stubbs HI-TECH Software, P.O. Box 103, ALDERLEY, QLD, 4051, AUSTRALIA. INTERNET: clyde@hitech.ht.oz.au PHONE: +61 7 300 5011 UUCP: uunet!hitech.ht.oz.au!clyde FAX: +61 7 300 5246