Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

Hi I've been writing a piece of code as part of university course and
I am getting an error and I can't figure out how to fix it.

The code is meant to be a reverse polish notation calculator, the user
inputs digits and operators one at a time and the program either
pushes the numbers on to a stack or pops them off when it receives an
operator, performs the calculation, then pushes the result back on to
the stack.

Finally when the user inputs a equals sign the program displays the
results, this is how it's meant to work anyway.

When I try to compile i get this error:
prog5.c:10: error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token

BTW the simpleio.h is a library of input mechanisms given to us by our
university, they include the getInt() & getChar functions, supposedly
there to make our lives easier, anyway, the code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include "../simpleio.h"

typedef struct CalcParam { int item;
struct calcParam * next;
} calcParam;

int main();
{
char item;
int temp1, temp2, temp3, answer;
calcParam * top;
calcParam * cpp;

printf("Enter a reverse polish notation string, character by
character: \n");
printf("Finish with '='\n");
printf("Next: "); item=getChar();

while(item!='=')
{
if (!(item>='0' && item<='9' || item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*'
|| item=='/' ) //ccheck if input is valid
{
printf("Not a valid input, valid input: digits 0-9, +, -, *, /");
exit(1)
}

if (item>='0' && item<='9') //check if user input is a
number
{
if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); //check if
memory can be allocated
{
printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
exit(1);
}
atoi(&item); //convert input char to int ready to push on
to stack
cpp->item=item; //push number on to stack
cpp->next = top;
top = cpp;
printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
}
if (item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*' || item=='/') //
check if user input is an operator
{
temp1=top->item; //pop first item and put it in
temp1
cpp = top;
top = top->next;
free(ccp);
temp2=top->item; //pop second item and put it in
temp2
cpp = top;
top = top->next;
free(ccp);
temp3 = temp2 item temp1; //perform arithmetic and
store answer in temp3

if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); //
check if memory can be allocated
{
printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
exit(1);
}
cpp->item=temp3; //push temp3 on to stack
cpp->next = top;
top = cpp;
printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
}
}
answer=top->item; //pop answer
cpp = top;
top = top->next;
free(ccp);
printf("Answer: ", answer);
return 0;
}

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On Mar 10, 7:51*am, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:
> int main();
> {

Here's your problem.

Tom

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On 10 Mar, 12:51, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi I've been writing a piece of code as part of university course and
> I am getting an error and I can't figure out how to fix it.

<snip>

> When I try to compile i get this error:
> prog5.c:10: error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token

it would be nice if you indicated which was line 10. I know we can
count but the posting process can mess things up. And suppose it was
big number line 199, do I have to count that many lines to help you?

> BTW the simpleio.h is a library of input mechanisms given to us by our
> university, they include the getInt() & getChar functions, supposedly
> there to make our lives easier, anyway, the code:
>
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include "../simpleio.h"
>
> typedef struct CalcParam { *int item;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * struct calcParam * next;

I think you meant "struct CalcParam". Is this your actual code?

> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * } calcParam;
>
> int main();
> {
> * * * * char item;

I can find your error by inspection but you should learn to do this
yourself. Which line was the error reported on? What came just before
the { ? Ignore spaces, tabs and newlines. Now go and look in your
textbook or course notes. How is a function defined?


<snip>

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On 10 Mar, 12:51, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:

<snip>

> The code is meant to be a reverse polish notation calculator, the user
> inputs digits and operators one at a time and the program either
> pushes the numbers on to a stack or pops them off when it receives an
> operator, performs the calculation, then pushes the result back on to
> the stack.
>
> Finally when the user inputs a equals sign the program displays the
> results, this is how it's meant to work anyway.
>
> When I try to compile i get this error:
> prog5.c:10: error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token

I dealt witht he error in another post


> BTW the simpleio.h is a library of input mechanisms given to us by our
> university, they include the getInt() & getChar functions, supposedly
> there to make our lives easier, anyway, the code:
>
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include "../simpleio.h"
>
> typedef struct CalcParam { *int item;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * struct calcParam * next;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * } calcParam;
>
> int main();
> {
> * * * * char item;
> * * * * int temp1, temp2, temp3, answer;

variables called temp1, temp2 and temp3 are usually a bad sign. Have
you done arrays yet?

> * * * * calcParam * top;
> * * * * calcParam * cpp;
>
> * * * * printf("Enter a reverse polish notation string, character by
> character: \n");
> * * * * printf("Finish with '='\n");
> * * * * printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
>
> * * * * while(item!='=')

did you use up your allocation of spaces? I'd code this as

while (item != '=')

> * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * if (!(item>='0' && item<='9' || item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*'
> || item=='/' ) *//ccheck if input is valid

have you be told about isdigit()? I'd worry about the precedence of &&
and ||. I * think* the above is correct but I'd check.


> * * * * * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * * * * * printf("Not a valid input, valid input: digits 0-9, +, -, *, /");
> * * * * * * * * * * * * exit(1)

technically 1 (one) is a not a portable value to pass to exit().
Though it's going to work most places.

> * * * * * * * * }
>
> * * * * * * * * if (item>='0' && item<='9') * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //check if user input is a
> number

// comments don't work on older compilers and get messed up by posting
s/w (as here).


> * * * * * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * * * * * if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //check if
> memory can be allocated

is malloc() really necessary? Your stack is a list of calcParams? You
chekced the return value of malloc()- good! The cast is unnecessary in
C.

> * * * * * * * * * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * exit(1);
> * * * * * * * * * * * * }

> * * * * * * * * * * * * atoi(&item); * *

you ignore the return value of atoi(). atoi() expects a string you
can't give it the address of a char. Review your pointer stuff. atoi()
has no error checking but I suppose that's ok for a learner.
*
> * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp->item=item;

I've removed some of your comments as the layout had gone *really*
strange

> * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp->next = top;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * top = cpp;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
> * * * * * * * * }
> * * * * * * * * if (item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*' || item=='/') * *
> * * * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * * * * * temp1=top->item; *

where was top initialised (I may have missed it). Have you done
functions yet? push and pop probably should be functions.
* * *
> > * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp = top;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * top = top->next;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * free(ccp);
> * * * * * * * * * * * * temp2=top->item; * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //pop second item and put it in
> temp2

I hate comments like this! We *know* you are storing it in temp2.

> * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp = top;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * top = top->next;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * free(ccp);
> * * * * * * * * * * * * temp3 = temp2 item temp1; * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //perform arithmetic and
> store answer in temp3
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
> check if memory can be allocated
> * * * * * * * * * * * * {
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * exit(1);
> * * * * * * * * * * * * }
> * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp->item=temp3; * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //push temp3 on to stack
> * * * * * * * * * * * * cpp->next = top;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * top = cpp;
> * * * * * * * * * * * * printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
> * * * * * * * * }
> * * * * }
> * * * * answer=top->item; * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *//pop answer
> * * * * cpp = top;
> * * * * top = top->next;
> * * * * free(ccp);
> * * * * printf("Answer: ", answer);
> * * * * return 0;
>
>
>
> }

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On Mar 10, 1:04*pm, Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nos...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On 10 Mar, 12:51, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi I've been writing a piece of code as part of university course and
> > I am getting an error and I can't figure out how to fix it.
>
> <snip>
>
> > When I try to compile i get this error:
> > prog5.c:10: error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
>
> it would be nice if you indicated which was line 10. I know we can
> count but the posting process can mess things up. And suppose it was
> big number line 199, do I have to count that many lines to help you?
>
> > BTW the simpleio.h is a library of input mechanisms given to us by our
> > university, they include the getInt() & getChar functions, supposedly
> > there to make our lives easier, anyway, the code:
>
> > #include <stdio.h>
> > #include <stdlib.h>
> > #include "../simpleio.h"
>
> > typedef struct CalcParam { *int item;
> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * struct calcParam * next;
>
> I think you meant "struct CalcParam". Is this your actual code?
>
> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * } calcParam;
>
> > int main();
> > {
> > * * * * char item;
>
> I can find your error by inspection but you should learn to do this
> yourself. Which line was the error reported on? What came just before
> the { ? Ignore spaces, tabs and newlines. Now go and look in your
> textbook or course notes. How is a function defined?
>
> <snip>

line 10 is the line after int main, which as pointed out above I
ridiculously left in a semi-colon without noticing :(, the definition
of struct calcParam is right, and yes it is my own code.

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

Thanks for all the comments, the code works now and I am going to read
through all your suggestions, I have learnt functions and arrays, but
this exercise is under the lab worksheet for malloc, so I guess it's
best I use malloc.

I do understand the precedence of || and &&, but haven't come across
isdigit, will look in to it.

exit(1) is just what I have been shown by my lecturer, I know no other
way :(

I did forget to initialise top, I have amended it and it now looks
like this: calcParam * top = NULL;

Sorry about the annoying comments :(

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On 10 Mar, 13:21, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 10, 1:04*pm, Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nos...@hotmail.com>
> > On 10 Mar, 12:51, aydinh <mr.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:

<snip>

> > > typedef struct CalcParam { *int item;
> > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * struct calcParam * next;
>
> > I think you meant "struct CalcParam". Is this your actual code?
>
> > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * } calcParam;

<snip>

> line 10 is the line after int main, which as pointed out above I
> ridiculously left in a semi-colon without noticing :(,

it happens! But the compiler tries its best to help!

> the definition
> of struct calcParam is right, and yes it is my own code.

must be me. I'd expect

typedef struct CalcParam { int item;
struct CalcParam * next;
} calcParam;

I'm surprised it can "see" calcParam when next is defined.

Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

> I'm surprised it can "see" calcParam when next is defined.

I know what you mean, but this is how I've been shown to do it, and
both my reference books say to do it this way.

Re:Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On 2010-03-10, aydinh <mr.aydin@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi I've been writing a piece of code as part of university course and
> I am getting an error and I can't figure out how to fix it.
>
> The code is meant to be a reverse polish notation calculator, the user
> inputs digits and operators one at a time and the program either
> pushes the numbers on to a stack or pops them off when it receives an
> operator, performs the calculation, then pushes the result back on to
> the stack.
>
> Finally when the user inputs a equals sign the program displays the
> results, this is how it's meant to work anyway.
>
> When I try to compile i get this error:
> prog5.c:10: error: expected identifier or ?(? before ?{? token
>
> BTW the simpleio.h is a library of input mechanisms given to us by our
> university, they include the getInt() & getChar functions, supposedly
> there to make our lives easier, anyway, the code:
>
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include "../simpleio.h"
>
> typedef struct CalcParam { int item;
> struct calcParam * next;
> } calcParam;
>
> int main();

Compilation fails here, as your compiler as told you.

> {
> char item;

Don't use tabs. Your lines are too long even without them. My newsreader
will complain when I try to post this because I've quoted /your/ lines.
Ergo, you need a smarter newsreader. Try slrn.

> int temp1, temp2, temp3, answer;
> calcParam * top;
> calcParam * cpp;
>
> printf("Enter a reverse polish notation string, character by
> character: \n");

Character by character? Surely you can do better than that.

> printf("Finish with '='\n");
> printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
>
> while(item!='=')

What if item is EOF?

> {
> if (!(item>='0' && item<='9' || item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*'
>|| item=='/' ) //ccheck if input is valid

Please stop using // comments. I can't even count all the syntax
errors you've caused by them wrapping around all over the place.

> {
> printf("Not a valid input, valid input: digits 0-9, +, -, *, /");
> exit(1)

Compilation will fail here. Plus 1 is not a valid return value on
all systems. stdlib.h has a constant EXIT_FAILURE you can use for
that purpose.

> }
>
> if (item>='0' && item<='9') //check if user input is a
> number

See ctype.h and isdigit().

> {
> if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); //check if
> memory can be allocated

This is a terrible use of malloc(). Try:

cpp = malloc(sizeof *cpp)

> {
> printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
> exit(1);
> }
> atoi(&item); //convert input char to int ready to push on
> to stack

What do you expect the to do? And how?

> cpp->item=item; //push number on to stack
> cpp->next = top;
> top = cpp;
> printf("Next: "); item=getChar();
> }
> if (item=='+' || item=='-' || item=='*' || item=='/') //
> check if user input is an operator
> {
> temp1=top->item; //pop first item and put it in
> temp1
> cpp = top;
> top = top->next;
> free(ccp);
> temp2=top->item; //pop second item and put it in
> temp2
> cpp = top;
> top = top->next;
> free(ccp);
> temp3 = temp2 item temp1; //perform arithmetic and
> store answer in temp3

What do you expect this to do? And how?

>
> if(!(cpp = (calcParam *) malloc(sizeof(calcParam)); //
> check if memory can be allocated
> {
> printf("Cannot allocate memory\n");
> exit(1);
> }
> cpp->item=temp3; //push temp3 on to stack
> cpp->next = top;
> top = cpp;
> printf("Next: "); item=getChar();

Why did you duplicate this line?

> }
> }
> answer=top->item; //pop answer
> cpp = top;
> top = top->next;
> free(ccp);

This is pointless. If you're going to free anything why don't
you free the entire list?

> printf("Answer: ", answer);
> return 0;
> }


--
Andrew Poelstra
http://www.wpsoftware.net/andrew

Re:Re: Compiling error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before ‘{’ token
 

On 2010-03-10, aydinh <mr.aydin@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm surprised it can "see" calcParam when next is defined.
>
> I know what you mean, but this is how I've been shown to do it, and
> both my reference books say to do it this way.

Throw them both out. They're garbage.

--
Andrew Poelstra
http://www.wpsoftware.net/andrew