Using sscanf to read strings with white spaces in C

Question

I am trying to get use sscanf to scan a string of text and store the values into an array. When it comes to storing the last string it stops scanning when it comes to a white space. For example in the below string it would only store the word "STRING". I have tried using %[^ \t\n] and the other various specifiers but it seems I am missing something.

I just cant get the function to include white space, im sure its probably something simple.

string test = "9999:STRING OF TEXT";

scan = sscanf(test, "%d:%s", rec[i].ref, rec[i].string);

gmas80 · Answer 1 · 2014-12-12T02:17:39.360

2

You should have posted a minimal working code.

However, the issue is most likely that %s does not skip white space as do the numerical formats such as %f and %d. Use something like sscanf(test, "%d:%[^\n]", rec[i].ref, rec[i].string); to capture whatever is after :.

Look here for details: [http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/cstdio/sscanf/][1]

edited Dec 12 '14 at 02:17

answered Dec 12 '14 at 02:04

gmas80

1,218
1
14
44

`%s` does skip initial white space. – mafso Dec 12 '14 at 11:22

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

1

So this does not work?

sscanf(test, "%d:%[^\t\n]", rec[i].ref, rec[i].string);

check out this answer : reading a string with spaces with sscanf

Basically this will will match the number, followed by anything that is not in the brackets (tab, newline), note the ^ symbol.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

Community

1
1

answered Dec 12 '14 at 01:58

buydadip

8,890
22
79
154

Thanks, I was under the impression the it should read "%d:%s[^\t\n]" knew it would be something stupid on my end! – newprogrammer Dec 12 '14 at 02:14

Using sscanf to read strings with white spaces in C

2 Answers2