Programming Logic

Formatted
Input
Functions
B.Bhuvaneswaran, AP (SG) / CSE
9791519152
bhuvaneswaran@rajalakshmi.edu.in
scanf() Function
 The scanf() function is used to input a set of values.
 This function inputs any combination of digits, characters and
strings.

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General Form
 scanf("control strings", arg1, arg2, . . . argn) ;
 Where the control strings specifies the field format in which the
data is to be entered and the arguments arg1,arg2, . . . argn
specify the address of locations where the data is stored.
 scanf() reads one data item from the input corresponding to each
argument, skipping white spaces including new lines to find the
next data item.

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Rules
 All the format specifiers (control strings) are written within double
quotes.
 Each format specifier (control string) must be preceded by the %
sign.
 Each numeric variable must be preceded by & symbol except for
array of characters.
 There must be a format specifier corresponding to every variable.
 The order of the format specifier is same as the order of the
corresponding variables.

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Input of Integer Numbers
 The field specification for reading an integer number is:
%d
or
%wd
 where the percent sign (%) indicates that conversion specification
follows, w is an integer number that specifies the field width of
the number to be read and d known as data type character,
indicates that the number to be read is in integer mode.

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Examples and Explanations
 Consider the following statement:
scanf("%2d %2d %3d", &a, &b, &c);
 When this statement is executed, the user has to enter the values
through the standard input device (keyboard).
 Suppose the input data items entered be:
1 2 3
 The assignment will be:
a=1 b=2 c=3

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Examples and Explanations
 If the input data items entered be:
12 34 56
 The assignment will be:
a = 12 b = 34 c = 56
 If the input data items entered be:
12345678
 The assignment will be:
a = 12 b = 34 c = 567
 And the remaining digits will be ignored.

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Examples and Explanations
 If the input data items entered be:
123 45678
 The assignment will be:
a = 12 b=3 c = 456
 And the remaining digits will be ignored.

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Input of Real Numbers
 The field specification for reading a real number is:
%f
 The above notation can be used for both decimal point notation
and exponential notation.

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Example and Explanation
 Consider the following statement:
scanf("%f %f %f", &a, &b, &c);
 when this statement is executed, the user has to enter the values
through the standard input device (keyboard).
 Suppose the input data items entered be:
123.45 12.34E-1 123
 The assignment will be:
a = 123.45 b = 1.234 c = 123.0

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Input of Single Character
 The field specification for reading single characters is:
%c
or
%wc

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Example and Explanation
 Consider the following statement:
scanf("%c %c %c", &a, &b, &c);
 when this statement is executed, the user has to enter the values
through the standard input device (keyboard).
 Suppose the input data items entered be:
r e c
 The assignment will be :
a = 'r' b = 'e' c = 'c'

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Input of Strings
 The field specification for reading a strings is:
%s
or
%ws

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Example and Explanation
 Consider the following statement:
scanf("%s %s %s", a, b, c);
 when this statement is executed, the user has to enter the values
through the standard input device (keyboard).
 Suppose the input data items entered be:
God is Love
 The assignment will be:
a = "God" b = "is" c = "Love"

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Input of Mixed Mode Data Types
 It is possible to use one scanf() statement to input a data line
containing mixed mode data such as integer, float and char.
 In such cases, care should be exercised to ensure that the input
data items match the control specifications in order and type.

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Example and Explanation
 Consider the following statement:
scanf("%d %s %c %f", &id, name, &gender, &salary);
 when this statement is executed, the user has to enter the values
through the standard input device (keyboard).
 Suppose the input data items entered be:
101 Bhuvan M 6000
 The assignment will be:
id = 101 name = "Bhuvan"
gender = 'M' salary = 6000.0

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Different scanf() Format Codes
Format Specifier Type of Argument Input
%c Character Reads a single character
%d Integer Reads a decimal integer
%e or %E or %f or %g or %G Floating point Reads a floating point value
%hd or %hi Short integer Reads decimal short integer
%hu Short integer Reads decimal unsigned short integer
Reads a decimal or hexadecimal or octal
%i Integer
integer
%ld or %li Long integer Reads decimal long integer
%le or %lf or %lg Double Reads signed double
%Le or %Lf or %Lg Long double Reads signed long double
%lo Long integer Reads an octal long integer
%lu Long integer Reads decimal unsigned long integer
%lx Long integer Reads hexadecimal long integer
%o Octal integer Reads an octal integer
%s Sequence of characters Reads a string
%u Integer Reads an unsigned decimal integer
%x or %X Hexadecimal integer Reads a unsigned hexadecimal integer
%[..] Sequence of characters Reads a string of word(s)

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Thank You