Please I need help with new data types e.g. INT_PTR.

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I have read various documentations on the new data types.But each time one question keeps hanging in my mind. Are the new data types pointers?Every documentation that discusses them always make mention of pointers and pointer arithmetic.

The answer to the following questions will help me comprehend these new data types fully.

1. Can one declare : INT_PTR *, UINT_PTR * etc?

2.Is. int * quivalent to. INT_PTR,
DWORD * equivalent to DWORD_PTR, etc?

In short are these new data tyes pointer equivalent of the old data types.If no, what is the pointer relationship between these new data types and the corresponding old data types?

Thank you.

Posted 18-Feb-14 0:51am

Gbenbam

Add a Solution

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

KarstenK · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-18T01:00:00

Solution 1

it is basic knowledge.

1. INT_PTR* is a pointer to an INT_PTR
2. not really, because a INT_PTR resolves to an int64* on x64

If you want to do pointer arithmetics and 64-portable code you need to deeply understand the differences.

further reading: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa383751(v=vs.85).aspx[^]

Posted 18-Feb-14 1:00am

KarstenK

Comments

Gbenbam 18-Feb-14 7:26am

Thanks.Your reaponse cleared a lot of confusion.

KarstenK 18-Feb-14 7:31am

Fine. Take care on pointer arithmetics ;-)

Gbenbam 18-Feb-14 7:54am

Well.Talking about pointer arithmetic,I have come to the following decisions.I just hope they are right.

1.Use the normal 32bit data types but use the _PTR equivalent whenever there will be need to cast or when I will need to declare pointer to the data type concerned.

By the way, isn't it better for me to stick to strictly using only the _PTR equivalent?

KarstenK 18-Feb-14 8:08am

I would prefer the _PTR syntax, to ensure 64-bit portability.

Gbenbam 18-Feb-14 8:16am

Thanks a billion times.With this issue resolved I can now code much faster without entertaining any form of doubts and concern.Once again, thanks for lending me a hand.

Gbenbam 18-Feb-14 8:52am

I apologise for having to disturb you again.I know this may make you laught.But my doubt is on this is all as a result of what I have read in docimrmtation about the new data types and 64bit programming.I have one last small but important doubt:

Is TCHAR * valid pointer in both 32bit and 64bit system?

KarstenK 18-Feb-14 9:13am

Yes and it is also the best choice to use TCHAR for character. Its size depends on SBCS, MBCS or Unicode settings.