Re: Calling iconv() with the correct prototype definitions

On Tuesday, March 9, 2004, Simon Coulter wrote:

 

Note that iconv_open() returns a structure therefore it cannot return -1. To
indicate an error is sets the return value FIELD of the iconv_t structure to
-1. That is not the same as returning -1. The return value field is named
return_value in the C header and is an int.

 

Simon, just to revisit my original mail (see below) - I indicated that the
first int defined in the iconv_t structure was the return value. I referred
to the iconv_t structure as a whole as the return variable. So, yes I agree,
the return value can be -1 even if the return variable is a structure
comprising the return value and a 12-element int array.

 

 

iconv_open(): This has a return variable of datatype iconv_t. This is a
structure composing an int (the return value) and an int array (12 elements
containing fromccsid, toccsid, shift state, etc...).

 

For the return value the documentation states: If successful, iconv_open()
returns a conversion descriptor of data type iconv_t. This conversion
descriptor must be passed unchanged as an input parameter to the iconv() and
iconv_close() functions. If unsuccessful, iconv_open() returns -1 in the
return value of the conversion descriptor and sets errno to indicate the
error.

 

I think we are saying the same thing.

 

Cheers

Larry