How to Properly Return Multiple String Values in C without Overwriting

Learn how to input multiple strings, split them, and display them in a table format in C, without losing the values of previous entries.
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How to Properly Return Multiple String Values in C without Overwriting

When working with strings in C, one common mistake is not storing multiple entries properly, resulting in only the last value being returned. If you've ever faced the issue of your program returning only the last string value instead of all string values, you are not alone! In this guide, we’ll address this problem and provide a structured solution that will allow you to input multiple strings, split them, and display them effectively in a table format.

Problem Description

The problem arises when you want to collect several string inputs related to electrical readings, format them into a table, and apply certain filtering conditions. For instance, take the following sample input strings:

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You might want your output to look like this:

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However, if you implement your code incorrectly, you end up with only the last set of values being displayed. Let's dive into how to solve this issue.

Step-by-step Solution

1. Prepare Your Input Structure

First, we need to define how we will capture user input. For this example, we will create a structure to hold multiple readings, making sure we do not overwrite previous entries.

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This array will allow us to hold several entries of voltage, current, power factor (PF), and kilowatts (KW).

2. Get User Input

Next, you'll want to gather user inputs in a loop. The following code captures input strings and breaks them down into individual components (voltage, current, PF, KW) using fgets and sscanf:

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This code snippet allows the user to input data five times, which is suitable for various situations.

3. Implement Filtering Conditions

Now, let's implement the filtering conditions. You only want to store the readings that meet specific criteria, such as ensuring that voltage is within a certain range and PF is above a defined threshold.

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4. Display the Final Table

Finally, you can print out the results after collecting all valid readings. This outputting is done in reverse order so that the most recent entries appear at the top of your table.

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This creates a nicely formatted table of all valid inputs.

Conclusion

Collecting and displaying multiple string values in C requires careful manipulation of input and storage mechanisms. By following this structured approach, you can efficiently gather multiple readings, filter out invalid entries, and display them in a clear, organized manner.

By applying these principles, you should avoid the common mistake of overwriting previous entries, ensuring your program returns the complete set of desired values. Happy coding!