ok , lets asy i got this structure: struct PARTICLE_GROUP { PARTICLE *particles; // Dynamic array of particles double lifetime; double lifetime_left; // Does we have to free the array? COLOR_STEP *cs_top; double color_trans_timeleft; double size_trans_timeleft; D3DCOLORVALUE current_color; float current_width; float current_height; PARTICLE_GROUP *next; // The next group }; and im allocating memory for it like that: PARTICLE_GROUP *pg; pg = (PARTICLE_GROUP *)calloc(1,sizeof(PARTICLE_GROUP)); ok , so now , can i free the allocated block like that?: PARTICLE_GROUP *pg2; pg2 = pg; free(pg2); well , can i do it? is it good? coz , seems that im having problems with it in my particle engine . thanks all. ************************* "Everything you know is wrong" - Bono *************************

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Make sure pg is not NULL. You can''t free a NULL pointer.

Not if it''s in a seperate function.

-Mezz

quote: Original post by Xeno

and im allocating memory for it like that:
PARTICLE_GROUP *pg;
pg = (PARTICLE_GROUP *)calloc(1,sizeof(PARTICLE_GROUP));

BTW, you should swap the function arguments, and do

PARTICLE_GROUP *pg;pg = (PARTICLE_GROUP *)calloc(sizeof(PARTICLE_GROUP), 1); 

quote: Original post by Xeno

ok , so now , can i free the allocated block like that?:

PARTICLE_GROUP *pg2;
pg2 = pg;
free(pg2);

well , can i do it?
is it good?

Yes, you can do it but you DON''T NEED to duplicate the pointer to the allocate heap chunk to free it. It''s not a good practice since you are creating TWO dangling references.

quote: Original post by Xeno

coz , seems that im having problems with it in my particle engine .

It depends on what is the the problem. Sincerly, I don''t think the problem may reside here.





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quote: Original post by DaWizard

Make sure pg is not NULL. You can''t free a NULL pointer.

free()ing a NULL pointer is required by the standard to be safe.
ANSI Sec 7.20.3.2:
"The free function causes the space pointed to by ptr to be deallocated, that is, made available for further allocation. If ptr is a null pointer, no action occurs."