C / C++ / MFC

30-Jul-09 6:21

How can I store address of integer array to void pointer and print array using void pointer?

molesworth30-Jul-09 7:49

molesworth

30-Jul-09 7:49

sam_psycho wrote:
How can I store address of integer array to void pointer

int anArray[1234];

void* pointyThing = (void*)(anArray);

and print array using void pointer?

I don't know of any built-in way to print arrays from a void*, but presumably you can write a function to do it...

MyPrintArrayFunction(pointyThing);

There are three kinds of people in the world - those who can count and those who can't...

sam_psycho30-Jul-09 8:06

Re: void pointer? [modified]

30-Jul-09 8:06

To print array compiler giving error:
I tried following code but It is not working,

int arr[]={10,20,3};
   void *ptr=(void *)arr;
   printf("%d",*ptr); // getting error on this line

So, please any suggestion to print array using void pointer,
And most imp why compiler not allowing above code .. Confused | :confused:

Joe Woodbury30-Jul-09 8:20

30-Jul-09 8:20

printf expects you to pass a value as an argument. By definition you can't resolve a void pointer. Be happy; in the past the compiler wouldn't stop you from being stupid.

(I actually slightly misspoke--the *ptr is simply an error. That said, newer compilers do some rudimentary "sanity" checking of printf arguments. I've never seen how far the compiler goes, but have seen it complain on occasion when I was being dumb.)

modified on Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:35 PM

sam_psycho30-Jul-09 8:30

30-Jul-09 8:30

Joe Woodbury wrote:
printf expects you to pass a value as an argument. By definition you can't resolve a void pointer.

Agree with you.. Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:

Joe Woodbury wrote:
Be happy;

Here too... Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:

BUT,

Joe Woodbury wrote:
in the past the compiler wouldn't stop you from being stupid.

Is this solution to the problem I asked? Sigh | :sigh:

Joe Woodbury30-Jul-09 8:35

30-Jul-09 8:35

There is no solution except to case the pointer to something that resolves to an integer or long value (which is dangerous of the void* isn't actually pointing to an integer or long.)

The point is that you could do *(int*)ptr.

(I actually slightly misspoke--the *ptr is simply an error. That said, newer compilers do some rudimentary "sanity" checking of printf arguments. I've never seen how far the compiler goes, but have seen it complain on occasion when I was being dumb.)

sam_psycho30-Jul-09 9:01

30-Jul-09 9:01

Joe Woodbury wrote:
The point is that you could do *(int*)ptr.

is working fine,
But I want to print array so I tried following code which is not working,
So can you please make it workable.

int arr[]={10,20,3,6};
     void *ptr=(void *)arr;
     int i=3;
     while(i--)
     {
     printf(" %d",(*(int *)ptr));
     (int *)ptr+=2;
     }

Joe Woodbury30-Jul-09 9:45

30-Jul-09 9:45

I don't understand why you are using a void*. It has no concept of size of what it's pointing to. You are removing type safety for no reason.

That said, when you increment do arithmetic on a pointer, that arithmetic is done according to the size of the object pointed to by that pointer. In this case you are casting ptr to an (int*). Therefore, you only need to increment ptr by 1 to take you to the next position. (As an aside, (int*)ptr += 1; will not compile on many compilers--you would have to have ptr = (int*)ptr + 1;

Two other points:

You don't need to cast arr to a void*, that cast is automatic.

You have an off by one error; you have four items in your array, but you only go through the loop three times.

You simply shouldn't be using a void* in a case like this. It's an extremely bad idea. It would be better to use arr[] directly or if you must use a pointer, use an int*.

sam_psycho30-Jul-09 16:43

30-Jul-09 16:43

Joe Woodbury wrote:
I don't understand why you are using a void*

Just I wanted to check that is is possible to print array using void*,
You helped me a lot and I Could, thanks.
Last one Q.:

ptr = (int*)ptr + 1;

In this case,I don't understand why you incremented by 1, size of int is 2,
ptr is void* but we are converting it into int so suppose to be incremented by 2; but it fails and how above code works fine ?

Joe Woodbury30-Jul-09 17:04

C++ Excel Automation -- assign array to range

30-Jul-09 17:04

The size of an int varies by compiler and platform. On 16-bit operating systems, it is 16 bits or 2 bytes long. On 32-bit operating systems, it is 32 bits or 4 bytes long.

Incrementing a pointer will cause it the memory reference to increase by the size of the object it points to. One way to look at pointers is to understand that int* pArray is functionally equivalent to int array[4]. Likewise, assuming that pArray points to array, pArray[0] is the same as array[0]. Likewise pArray[1] is the same as array[1]. pArray[1] is the same as *(pArray + 1).

MattPugsley30-Jul-09 5:45

MattPugsley

30-Jul-09 5:45

Hello,

I am trying to assign an array to a range in Excel. I am using Excel 2007, Visual C++, MS VC++2008 Express Edition on XP.

I have read a number of articles from MSDN and other places to get started, but I continue to get run-time errors.

The basic logic is:
1. Identify a range pointer (type RangePtr) defined for a specific range in an existing Excel spreadsheet.
2. Create a BSTR.
3. Put the BSTR in a one element SAFEARRAY (two dimensions, one row, one column).
4. Wrap the SAFEARRAY into a VARIANT.
5. Assign the VARIANT to the RangePtr.

The code compiles without errors, but I get run-time errors when using the last step. I get no run-time errors if I omit the last step (step #5).

The call stack that results when running the program:

 	kernel32.dll!7c812aeb() 	
 	[Frames below may be incorrect and/or missing, no symbols loaded for kernel32.dll]	
 	kernel32.dll!7c812aeb() 	
 	kernel32.dll!7c809ac6() 	
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!_com_raise_error(HRESULT hr=-2147352568, IErrorInfo * perrinfo=0x00000000)  Line 19	C++
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!_com_issue_error(HRESULT hr=-2147352568)  Line 39 + 0xe bytes	C++
>	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!_com_util::CheckError(HRESULT hr=-2147352568)  Line 99	C++
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!_variant_t::_variant_t(const tagVARIANT & varSrc=safearray of BSTR = [1,1](0x001a4bf4 "C"))  Line 1136 + 0x1d bytes	C++
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!main()  Line 98 + 0x12 bytes	C++
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!__tmainCRTStartup()  Line 582 + 0x19 bytes	C
 	InterfaceWithExcel.exe!mainCRTStartup()  Line 399	C
 	kernel32.dll!7c817067()

Googling has told me that hr=-2147352568 means "bad variable type." But I don't know where the bad variable type is in the code below. You can see above how the code does see my one element SAFEARRAY with the BSTR value of "C". (This is bstr1, defined in the code below.)

I have been successfuly in assigning values to individual cells. So the code is not entirely on the wrong track. For example, myRangePtr->Item[1][1] = 1; will successfully assign the number 1 to cell A1. But I'm trying to dump an entire table, and so I would like to be able to assign arrays to ranges rather than cell values one at a time.

The code follows below.

Thank you for your time!
--Matt Pugsley

// code adapted from provided in "A brief introduction to C++ and Interfacing with Excel"
// by Andrew L. Hazel, School of Mathematics, University of Manchester

// Microsoft Office Objects
#import \
 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE12\MSO.DLL" \
rename("DocumentProperties","DocumentPropertiesXL") \
rename("RGB", "RGBXL")
// I changed OFFICE11 to OFFICE12, since I am using Excel 2007

// Microsoft VBA Objects
#import \
 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\VBE6EXT.OLB"

// Excel Application Objects
#import "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\EXCEL.EXE" \
rename("DialogBox", "DialogBoxXL") rename("RGB", "RGBXL") \
rename("DocumentProperties", "DocumentPropertiesXL") \
rename("ReplaceText","ReplaceTextXL") \
rename("CopyFile","CopyFileXL") \
exclude("IFont","IPicture") no_dual_interfaces

#include <iostream>
using std::cout;
using std::endl;
#include <cstdlib>



int main()
{
	Excel::_ApplicationPtr XL;
	HRESULT hr;
	
	try
	{
		CoInitialize(NULL);
	
		XL.CreateInstance(L"Excel.Application");
		
		XL->Visible = true;
	}
	catch(_com_error &error)
	{
		cout << "COM error " << endl;
	}

	// create workbook & worksheet
	// identify range to which array will be assigned
	XL->Workbooks->Add(Excel::xlWorksheet);
	Excel::_WorksheetPtr pSheet = XL->ActiveSheet;
	Excel::RangePtr pRange = pSheet->Cells;
	Excel::RangePtr pBeginRange = pRange->Item[1][1];
	Excel::RangePtr pEndRange = pRange->Item[1][1];
	Excel::RangePtr pTotalRange = pSheet->Range[(Excel::Range*)pBeginRange][(Excel::Range*)pEndRange];
	
	
	// create some BSTRs
	wchar_t wsz1[] = L"C";
	wchar_t wsz2[] = L"D";
	BSTR bstr1;
	bstr1 = ::SysAllocString(wsz1);
	BSTR bstr2;
	bstr2 = ::SysAllocString(wsz2);
	
	// create safearray
	SAFEARRAYBOUND rgsabound[2] = { 0 };
	rgsabound[0].cElements = 1; // num rows
	rgsabound[0].lLbound = 0; // lower bound
	rgsabound[1].cElements = 1; // num cols
	rgsabound[1].lLbound = 0; // lower bound
	SAFEARRAY* mySafeArrayPtr = SafeArrayCreate(VT_BSTR,2,rgsabound);

	// identify index we want to change
	long index[2];
	
	// modify first element <0,0>
	index[0]	= 0;
	index[1] = 0;
	hr = SafeArrayPutElement(mySafeArrayPtr,index,bstr1);
	
	// modify second element <0,1>
	// index[0] = 0;
	// index[1] = 1;
	// hr = SafeArrayPutElement(mySafeArrayPtr,index,bstr2);
	
	// wrap safearray in variant
	VARIANT var;
	VariantInit(&var);
	var.vt = VT_ARRAY ;
	var.parray = mySafeArrayPtr;
	
	// assign safearray to range
	pTotalRange->Value = var; // this causes error
	
	// cleanup
	SysFreeString(bstr1);
	SysFreeString(bstr2);
	hr = SafeArrayDestroy(mySafeArrayPtr);
	
	return 0;
}

Re: C++ Excel Automation -- assign array to range -- mostly working now

MattPugsley30-Jul-09 10:12

MattPugsley

30-Jul-09 10:12

I've gotten the code to assign an array to an Excel range, as desired, but now I'm getting errors regarding the native COM capabilities built into VC++2008. They regard releasing some interface pointers. I expect it's because I've pulled my code from many different sources: some using MFC, some not; some using #import directives, some using explicit references to IDispatch.

I'll just keep grinding on it.

Thanks,
Matt

Here's the current code in case anyone else is working on a similar project and wants an example that *almost* works.

// code for initially connecting to Excel
// adapted from "A brief introduction to C++ and Interfacing with Excel"
// by Andrew L. Hazel, School of Mathematics, University of Manchester

// Microsoft Office Objects
#import \
 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE12\MSO.DLL" \
rename("DocumentProperties","DocumentPropertiesXL") \
rename("RGB", "RGBXL")
// I changed OFFICE11 to OFFICE12, since I am using Excel 2007

// Microsoft VBA Objects
#import \
 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA\VBA6\VBE6EXT.OLB"

// Excel Application Objects
#import "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\EXCEL.EXE" \
rename("DialogBox", "DialogBoxXL") rename("RGB", "RGBXL") \
rename("DocumentProperties", "DocumentPropertiesXL") \
rename("ReplaceText","ReplaceTextXL") \
rename("CopyFile","CopyFileXL") \
exclude("IFont","IPicture") no_dual_interfaces

#include <iostream>
using std::cout;
using std::endl;
#include <cstdlib>

int main()
{
	Excel::_ApplicationPtr XL;
	HRESULT hr;
	
	try
	{
		CoInitialize(NULL);
	
		XL.CreateInstance(L"Excel.Application");
		
		XL->Visible = true;
	}
	catch(_com_error &error)
	{
		cout << "COM error " << endl;
	}

	// create workbook & worksheet
	// identify range to which array will be assigned
	XL->Workbooks->Add(Excel::xlWorksheet);
	Excel::_WorksheetPtr pSheet = XL->ActiveSheet;
	Excel::RangePtr pRange = pSheet->Cells;
	Excel::RangePtr pBeginRange = pRange->Item[1][1];
	Excel::RangePtr pEndRange = pRange->Item[1][1];
	Excel::RangePtr pTotalRange = pSheet->Range[(Excel::Range*)pBeginRange][(Excel::Range*)pEndRange];
	
	
	// create some BSTRs
	wchar_t wsz1[] = L"C";
	wchar_t wsz2[] = L"D";
	BSTR bstr1;
	bstr1 = SysAllocString(wsz1);
	BSTR bstr2;
	bstr2 = SysAllocString(wsz2);
	
	// create safearray
	SAFEARRAYBOUND rgsabound[2] = { 0 };
	rgsabound[0].cElements = 1; // num rows
	rgsabound[0].lLbound = 0; // lower bound
	rgsabound[1].cElements = 1; // num cols
	rgsabound[1].lLbound = 0; // lower bound
	
	VARIANT arr;
	arr.vt = VT_ARRAY | VT_BSTR;
	arr.parray = SafeArrayCreate(VT_BSTR,2,rgsabound);
	
	// identify index we want to change
	long index[2];
	
	// modify first element <0,0>
	index[0]	= 0;
	index[1] = 0;
	hr = SafeArrayPutElement(arr.parray,index,bstr1);
	
	// modify second element <0,1>
	// index[0] = 0;
	// index[1] = 1;
	// hr = SafeArrayPutElement(mySafeArrayPtr,index,bstr2);
	
	// assign safearray to range
	pTotalRange->PutValue2(&arr);
		
	// cleanup
	VariantClear(&arr);
	SysFreeString(bstr1);
	SysFreeString(bstr2);
	CoUninitialize();
	
	
	return 0;
}

Re: C++ Excel Automation -- assign array to range -- mostly working now

Le@rner31-Aug-10 23:32

Le@rner

31-Aug-10 23:32

Its a such a nice code its working fine.
but on some machine its not working fine.
its generate execption on this line

Excel::RangePtr pRange = pSheet->Cells;

please help me how can i solve its.

thanks in advance.

Can we change pointer type in the run time?

THAQCD30-Jul-09 3:45

THAQCD

30-Jul-09 3:45

I would like to change the ARROW pointer to HAND (or CROSS) pointer in runtime without any physical event (no Button, Menu ...) triggered. I use this function to invoke new pointer type but it doesn't work:

void ChangePointerType(int type)
{
    if(type == 0)
    {
	HCURSOR hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW); 
	SetCursor(hCursor);
    }
    else if(type == 1) 
    {
	HCURSOR hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_CROSS); 
        SetCursor(hCursor);
    }
    else if(type == 2) 
    {
	HCURSOR hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_HAND); 
        SetCursor(hCursor);
    }

    ShowCursor(true);
}

Thank to any help? D'Oh! | :doh:

Code-o-mat30-Jul-09 4:04

Code-o-mat

30-Jul-09 4:04

Not exactly sure what you want to achieve but look at WM_SETCURSOR[^].

> The problem with computers is that they do what you tell them to do and not what you want them to do. <
> Life: great graphics, but the gameplay sux. <

THAQCD30-Jul-09 8:21

THAQCD

30-Jul-09 8:21

I did try as you suggested & it works! However, I forgot to mention that I would like to change the Pointer shape entirely ... with this method, I only can change the Pointer when my Pointer move across my GUI! If it moves out of the GUI, it returns to the default shape!

By any chance, MFC (VC++) can do the above just mentioned?

Thanks for help

Code-o-mat30-Jul-09 8:28

Code-o-mat

30-Jul-09 8:28

I'm not sure if that is possible or not...why do you want to change the mouse pointer for the whole system? Other applications might want the mouse pointer to have a different shape when it is over them...

> The problem with computers is that they do what you tell them to do and not what you want them to do. <
> Life: great graphics, but the gameplay sux. <

MattPugsley30-Jul-09 7:51

MattPugsley

30-Jul-09 7:51

You may want to consider the following from
http://winapi.freetechsecrets.com/win32/WIN32SetCursor.htm[^]

"If your application must set the cursor while it is in a window, make sure the class cursor for the specified window's class is set to NULL. If the class cursor is not NULL, the system restores the class cursor each time the mouse is moved."

I've had this problem in the past. I was changing the cursor when I pressed the left mouse button. When processing the WM_LBUTTONDOWN message, I would use the SetCursor() function. But as soon as I released the mouse button, the cursor would be restored. The problem was that I had a default cursor assigned, and my cursor was reverting to this default as soon as processing for that message was completed. I could 'keep' the new cursor only by continually sending WM_LBUTTONDOWN messages.

You might check your class definition to see if you have a default cursor set.