Deep question for the REAL C GURU's out there ...

[Ben Duncan]

Ok, have been slag'ing away ( ;-> ) on my project.
Done a LOT of reading of other's C projects and AM always getting tripped
up by there usage of  structptr1->structptr2->myitem.

Now, IS this not where a structure contains another structure and the above
is pointing to the sub-structure inside the main structure?

Now given that this is how I see everone else doing things and given the below
code: (see rest of email following code)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/* C code snippet */

typedef struct Menu_Set Menu ;
typedef struct menu_line_item menulineitem ;
typedef struct Menu_Status menustat ;

struct Menu_Status
{
     int ms_counter ;
     int ms_users ;
     char ms_status ;
     char ms_message [ 80 ] ;
}

struct menu_line_item
{
     int  mli_lineid ;
     char mli_displayname [ 16 ] ;
     char mli_type [ 8 ] ;
     char mli_program [ 24 ] ;

}  ;

struct Menu_Set
{
     char menu_heading [ 12 ] ;     /* Also used as Menu ID */
     int menu_item_count ;          /* How many Line items ? */
     menulineitem menusetlineitem [ 18 ] ;
     menustat menuset_status ;
}  ;

Menu menuStack[64];  /* We can have 64 menu's per system */
Menu *menuptr;       /* Pointer to the MenuStack */
Menu *currentMenu ;  /* Pointer to WHICH is current */
menustat *MenuStatus /* pointer to Menu Status stuff */
menulineitem *MenuItem;  /* Pointer to the menulineitem */
int active_menu ;    /* COunter of active menu's set up */

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
int idx, midx ;

for ( midx = 0 ; midx < active_menu ; midx++
{

/* < -- Start of PFM maybe ? */
  menuptr = &menuStack[midx];
  MenuStatus = &menuptr->menuset_status ;

/* Ok, watch WHAT I do here .... */
  MenuStatus->ms_counter = 0 ;

  for ( idx = 0; idx < menuptr->menu_item_count; idx++, mrows++ )
         {

/*   PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE BELOW MenuItem CODE !!!!!!!! */

           MenuItem = &menuptr->menusetlineitem[idx];  /* <---- LOOK CLOSELY !!! */
           MenuStatus->ms_counter++ ; /* Again, is this trickery? */

           if ( strcmp ( MenuItem->mli_type, HLINETYPE ) == 0 )
             {
               SLsmg_gotorc ( mrows, mcols );
               SLsmg_set_color ( COLORSET_MENULINES );
               SLsmg_draw_hline ( 16 );

               ............ or do other processing here ....
               ............ with if / elses's ............
             .....

           }  /* WRAP UP Inside for
   } /* Wrap up outside for */

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Notice the MenuStatus and the MenuItem pointers. I can set these to directly to the
address of the information I need to access. And they WORK as should ( I have tested
this out).

Now my questions's are:

If this works, why does everone use the "aptr->bptr->item" method. Is that more the 
political correct method? Is there anything BAD or BORKEN with doing the way I am doing it?

Is this going to be the same nightmare I faced 30 some odd years ago when I learned COBOL -
that there are so many ways to do things, you just have to pick a method and live with it?

Inquiring minds want to know .....

Thanks ...

-- 
Ben Duncan   - VersAccounting Software LLC 336 Elton Road  Jackson MS, 39212
"Never attribute to malice, that which can be adequately explained by stupidity"
        - Hanlon's Razor