C Programming problem using character type scanf

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I wrote a program that should work just fine. I compiled the same program on a Windows compiler and the program works great. However, my GCC compiler seems to be having a problem with the character type scanf within an if statement which is also within a do while loop. My default GCC version is 4.0. Anyone have any ideas. The program is below with a comment on which scanf is causing the problem. When the program gets to that scanf, it just continues on by without waiting for user input of y or n.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
//Library stdlib.h needed for srand. Library time.h needed for time randomization.

main ()

{
int iRandom=0,iGuess=0,iGuessMade=0;
char cExit='\0';
//Data type calls - iRandom is random value, iGuess is for users guess, iGuessMade to count guesses and cExit is for y or n to play again.

srand(time(NULL));
//srand call for rand to randomize each time

iRandom = (rand() % 10)+1;
//Randomize number between 0 and 999, then add 1 in order to assign values between 1 and 1000.
//Randomize before first loop in order to keep same value until guessed right.

do
{
printf("\n\n***************************************");
printf("\n* I have a number between 1 and 10. *");
printf("\n* Can you guess my number? *");
printf("\n* Please type your guess: *");
printf("\n***************************************\n\n");
scanf("%d", &iGuess);
iGuessMade++; //iGuessMade counts number of times guessed.

if (iGuess == iRandom) //Test if guess is the same as random value.
{

printf("\n\n**********************************************");
printf("\n* Excellent! *");
printf("\n* You guessed the right number! *");
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. Can you beat it? *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n* Would you like to play again (y or n)? *");
printf("\n**********************************************\n\n");
scanf("%c", &cExit); //This is the scanf that is not working
if (toupper (cExit) == 'Y'){ //toupper to accept upper or lower case.
iRandom = (rand() % 10)+1; //Randomize again for new value in next game if y chosen.
iGuessMade=0; //Resets number of guesses if user plays again.
}
}

else
{
if (iGuess > iRandom)
{

printf("\n\n**************************************");
printf("\n* %d is too High! Try Again. *", iGuess);
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n**************************************\n\n");
} //Test if iGuess is too high.

else
{

printf("\n\n**************************************");
printf("\n* %d is too Low! Try Again. *", iGuess);
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n**************************************\n\n");
} //Output if iGuess is too low, only other option if previous tests fail.
}
} while (toupper (cExit) != 'N');
//Test if cExit is not equal to N. Toupper compensates for upper or lower case input. If cExit is not N, then game replays.

return 0;
}
 
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Hi,

I am running into the same problem. I am starting out writing simple console programs using a cocoa project with XCode 2.5 and have been running into the same problem as you have with character variables and "while" looping. Funny thing is that if I do a "while" loop, if I set the "char" variable to 'y' for "yes" outside the loop first (so that it enters), and then use "scanf" inside the "while" loop, it will actually ask me for the letter, but just that first time. If I enter 'y' to do the loop again, it totally blows by the "scanf" the next time and then exits the "while" loop.

Have you figured anything out yet? I used an integer variable instead and used by conditional test with '0' or '1' and it doesn't blow by the "scanf" this way. Only with a character variable.

Ryan
 
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Solution to scanf problem

I determined the problem was that there was remnants in the scanf before getting to my character scanf. Therefore, the scanf just went on through. The solution was to make the scanf skip any white space by adding a space before the scan. Here is my working program below.



#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <ctype.h>
//Library stdlib.h needed for srand. Library time.h needed for time randomization.
//Library ctype.h needed for toupper upper case adjustment.

int main ()

{
int iRandom=0,iGuess=0,iGuessMade=0;
char cExit='\0';
//Data type calls - iRandom is random value, iGuess is for users guess, iGuessMade to count guesses and cExit is for y or n to play again.

srand(time(NULL));
//srand call for rand to randomize each time

iRandom = (rand() % 1000)+1;
//Randomize number between 0 and 999, then add 1 in order to assign values between 1 and 1000.
//Randomize before first loop in order to keep same value until guessed right.

do
{
printf("\n\n***************************************");
printf("\n* I have a number between 1 and 1000. *");
printf("\n* Can you guess my number? *");
printf("\n* Please type your guess: *");
printf("\n***************************************\n\n");
scanf("%d", &iGuess);
iGuessMade++; //iGuessMade counts number of times guessed.

if (iGuess == iRandom) //Test if guess is the same as random value.
{
printf("\n\n**********************************************");
printf("\n* Excellent! *");
printf("\n* You guessed the right number! *");
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. Can you beat it? *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n* Would you like to play again (y or n)? *");
printf("\n**********************************************\n\n");
scanf(" %c", &cExit); //Space added before %c to skip white space before next character input. GCC & Miracle C compatible.
if (toupper (cExit) == 'Y'){ //toupper to accept upper or lower case.
iRandom = (rand() % 1000)+1; //Randomize again for new value in next game if y chosen.
iGuessMade=0; //Resets number of guesses if user plays again.
}
}

else
{
if (iGuess > iRandom)
{

printf("\n\n**************************************");
printf("\n* %d is too High! Try Again. *", iGuess);
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n**************************************\n\n");
} //Test if iGuess is too high.

else
{

printf("\n\n**************************************");
printf("\n* %d is too Low! Try Again. *", iGuess);
printf("\n* That was guess number %d. *", iGuessMade);
printf("\n**************************************\n\n");
} //Output if iGuess is too low, only other option if previous tests fail.
}
} while (toupper (cExit) != 'N');
//Test if cExit is not equal to N. Toupper compensates for upper or lower case input. If cExit is not N, then game replays.

return 0;
}
 
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The net is full of stuff about scanf. This one is interesting and read the last comment on it.
 

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