LPSTR and CHAR* ??

[Sen7inel]

I'm getting familiar with Windows programming. However, I'm pretty confused with some of these data types. What exactly is the difference between LPSTR, which supposedly points to mem address where a null-terminated string begins, and CHAR* which also is a pointer to a null-terminated string?

 

[Cagliostro]

this is quite no difference. LPSTR is made for code portability only.

Ion Filipski

 

[computerwhiz]

That is correct, both data types are the same and serve the same purpose.

 

[zeitghost]

There used to be.

LPSTR was defined as "char FAR*" back in the days when that mattered (i.e. 16 bit) and pointers defaulted to near.

 

[xwb]

For portability between MBCS, Unicode and normal character sets, use LPTSTR and LPCTSTR instead of LPSTR and LPCSTR.

 

[LazyMe]

>>That is correct, both data types are the same and serve the same purpose.

Nope, they're not the same. They can be the same. Whether a LPSTR is a CHAR or a WCHAR pointer depends on compiler options set (non-unicode or unicode builds).

Greetings,
Rick

 

[Cagliostro]

>LazyMe
You're kidding.
LPSTR is never WCHAR, any options you give to compiler. Don't confuse with LPTSTR.

Ion Filipski

 

[LazyMe]

Whoops!!??

No, not kidding (this time); just misreading.... tired I guess

Greetings,
Rick

 

[xwb]

LPTSTR can be either CHAR or WCHAR depending on compilation flags (MBCS, Unicode). Use TCHAR to be safe.

 

[Sen7inel]

Thanks for replies.

And I used LPSTR and CHAR instead of LPTSTR and TCHAR just so that we'd avoid the whole unicode issue, which I already was familiar with. =D

 

[Saturn26]

http://codeproject.com/string/cppstringguide1.asp

http://codeproject.com/string/cppstringguide2.asp

Read this for complete understanding of Character systems on windows.

Amol

Amol Chavan
Persistent System Pvt Ltd.