Hello ,

I have this:

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

typedef struct 
{
    float x;
    float y;
    Point *next;

} Point;

int main() 
{

    Point *thePoints = new Point[2];

    thePoints[0].x = 2;
    thePoints[0].y = 3;
    thePoints[1].x = 4;
    thePoints[1].y = 5;

    (thePoints[0])->next= 11;
    cout << (thePoints[0]->next <<endl;

    return 0;

}

but at the last 2 lines I can't access (thePoints[0])->next. (base operand of ‘->’ has non-pointer type ‘Point’)

I can't undestand why!

Here's the thing. You didn't reveal what your code was supposed to do. I would be guessing what all that code was supposed and can't seem to find a data type Point in line 12. Maybe you left out more code or just need to reveal the software design specification.

The code is what you can see, nothing more.I am just experimenting.I want just to fill the next pointer with value 11 and print it.

Then let's call this a failed experiment. That is, when we write code we have a design or result in mind. If you just want to print the value 11, you can take a hello world and change the string to 11.

There's a lot more wrong with your code than lines 12 and 27. For example, C++ line 27 even if it worked would not print "11" but would output, possibly a Vertical Tab character. Don't believe it? Simplify it to setting a value to 11 and printing that value.

Can you share how you got this far? It's odd to see all those includes and you not use them.

Ok, let's say I have this code: ( the includes were left over )

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>

using namespace std;

typedef struct Point
{
    float x;
    float y;
    int *next;

} Point;

int main() 
{

    Point *thePoints = new Point[2];

    thePoints[0].x = 2;
    thePoints[0].y = 3;
    thePoints[1].x = 4;
    thePoints[1].y = 5;

    (thePoints[0])->next= 11;
    cout << (thePoints[0])->next <<endl;

return 0;

}

Why it doesn't compile and gives me:
base operand of ‘->’ has non-pointer type ‘Point’

Then, if my struct is:

typedef struct Point
{
    float x;
    float y;
    Point *next;

} Point;

and try:

(thePoints[0].x)->next= 11;

why it gives me : base operand of ‘->’ is not a pointer

I hope it is clear.I just want to insert the value 11.

Thanks

You first have next defined as a Point*. 11 is not a Point*. Then you redefined it as an int*. 11 is not an integer, not a pointer to an integer. So you have next defined as a pointer, not an integer, in both definitions. That is your error.

I hope it is clear.

It is clear why you got the error. What you are trying to do is NOT clear, so I can't tell you how to fix it.

I just want to insert the value 11.

Insert the value 11 into WHAT? Is this an attempt to make a linked list?

Hmm..Yes, you are right , I am confused..

I solved the first problem (using int) like:

int a = 11;
thePoints[0].next = &a;
cout << *(thePoints[0].next) <<endl;

and it works ok.But I would expect it to work using ->:

thePoints[0]->next = &a;
or
thePoints[0]->x = 2;

and it doesn't.

As for the second case, yes,just trying to use a linked list.

So, I want to initialize thePoints[0].x = 2; thePoints[0].y = 3
and copy that stucture to the next.

Something like : thePoints[1]->next = thePoints[0];

Thank you.

Ok, regarding the first problem , I did:

   Point *thePoints = new Point[2];

   thePoints[0].x = 2;
    thePoints[0].y = 3;

    int a = 11;
    (&thePoints[0])->next = &a;

cout << *(&thePoints[0])->next <<endl;

and it works fine!
I confused that the thePoints[0] was not a pointer but a value.

Regarding the second problem (linked list) , I tried:

   Point *thePoints = new Point[2];

    thePoints[0].x = 2;
    thePoints[0].y = 3;

    (&thePoints[1])->next = &thePoints[0];

cout << thePoints[1].x <<endl;

but I am receiving a value of 0 instead of 2 in the cout statement.

but I am receiving a value of 0 instead of 2 in the cout statement.

You took out the code assigning thePoints[1] values. Stick it back in.

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>
using namespace std;

struct Point
{
    float x;
    float y;
    Point* next;
};

int main() 
{
    Point *thePoints = new Point[2];
    thePoints[0].x = 2;
    thePoints[0].y = 3;
    thePoints[1].x = 4;
    thePoints[1].y = 5;
    (&thePoints[1])->next = &thePoints[0];
    cout << thePoints[1].x <<endl;
    cout << thePoints[1].next->x << endl;
    return 0;
}

Note the new line I added just before the return 0. You should get a printout of 4, then 2.

I am noting some confusion between the dot operator and the arrow pointer. Use the dot when you have a Point object. Use the arrow operator when you have a Point* object. See code below. You should get 8 9 displayed twice.

    Point pt1;
    Point* pt2 = &pt1;
    pt1.x = 8;
    pt2->y = 9;
    cout << pt1.x << " " << pt1.y << endl;
    cout << pt2->x << " " << pt2->y << endl;

Thus you can change to (&thePoints[1])->next = &thePoints[0]; to thePoints[1].next = &thePoints[0]; They do the same thing.

Ok, thanks!
This cout << thePoints[1].next->x << endl; works!

My confusion is not only on thePoint thePoints or Point *thePoints
but also the presence of a pointer inside the structure int *next or Point *next.
and how to access this field with each case.

Thanks again!

I'm not sure where this int* idea is coming from. If you are creating a linked list of Points, seems like next should be a Point*.

Linked lists are generally like this...

struct X
{
    // some data members
    X* next; // points to next element in list.
};

So next will be a pointer to the struct type. In your case, Point*.

thePoints is an array. Its type isPoint*. It points to the first element of the array, element 0.

thePoints[0] and thePoints[1] are type Point, not type Point*. The brackets [] dereference it. You use the dot after the brackets. You use the arrow after a pointer. The code below is overly-complicated, but it hopefully gets the point across on how you can do the exact same thing different ways.

Point* ptr = thePoints;  // ptr points to point 0.
Point* ptr2 = &thePoints[0]; // different way of doing the above.  ptr and ptr2 point to the same thing
ptr->x = 5;                  // ptr is a pointer.  USe arrow.
thePoints[0].y = 6;          // point 0 is now (5,6).  Use the dot after the bracket.
ptr->next = &thePoints[1];   // the next point is point 1.
ptr2->next->x = 7;           // note.  Here I used TWO arrows since ptr and next are pointers.
thePoints[1].y = 8;          // point 1 is now (7, 8).  Here I used the dot.
cout << thePoints[0].x << " " << thePoints[0].y << endl; // 5 6
cout << thePoints[1].x << " " << thePoints[1].y << endl; // 7 8
commented: Cristal clear! +15

Thanks a lot for the example.I can understand it , ok .
When I used int *next it wasn't my intent to use a linked list.
It was just a field in the Point structure.I just wanted to test how to access it.

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