syntax - What is the reason for error while returning a structure in this C program? -

my program intends achieve this

(a) write c function named larger() returns later date of 2 dates passed it. example, if dates 10/9/2001 , 11/3/2001 passed larger(), second date returned.

(b) create larger() function written (a) in complete unit. store date structure returned larger() in separate date structure , display member values of returned data structure.

i working on problem c language course. had going (i thought), except kept getting "the larger date is: 0/0/0" no matter entered. started tinkering, , cannot rid of syntax error, or figure out 0/0/0 problem. dates aren't making through. i'm still pretty new @ (and new @ structs), awesome!

the line that's giving me syntax error near bottom of main():

dates result[num] = larger(dates user[num]); 

the code in full:

#include <stdio.h> #define num 2 struct dates {        int month;        int day;        int year; }; typedef struct dates dates; dates larger(dates[num]); dates more; int main() {     dates user[num];      printf("you enter 2 dates, , program return larger.\n");     while (user[0].month < 1 || user[0].month > 12)          {printf("\nplease enter first month, 1-12: ");          scanf("%d", &user[0].month);}     while (user[0].day < 1 || user[0].day > 31)           {printf("\nplease enter first day, 1-31: ");           scanf("%d", &user[0].day);}     while (user[0].year < 1)           {printf("\nplease enter first year: ");           scanf("%d)", &user[0].year);}     printf("\ndate entered: %d/%d/%d.\n", user[0].month, user[0].day, user[0].year);      while (user[1].month < 1 || user[1].month > 12)          {printf("\nplease enter first month, 1-12: ");          scanf("%d", &user[1].month);}     while (user[1].day < 1 || user[1].day > 31)           {printf("\nplease enter first day, 1-31: ");           scanf("%d", &user[1].day);}     while (user[1].year < 1)           {printf("\nplease enter first year: ");           scanf("%d)", &user[1].year);}     printf("\ndate entered: %d/%d/%d.\n\n", user[1].month, user[1].day, user[1].year);      dates result[num] = larger(dates user[num]);  /* problem here */      printf("the larger date %d/%d/%d.\n\n", result[0].month, result[0].day, result[0].year);     system("pause");     return 0; }  dates larger(dates more[num]) {               int days0;       int days1;        days0 = (more[0].month*31)+(more[0].day)+(more[0].year*365);       days1 = (more[1].month*31)+(more[1].day)+(more[1].year*365);        if (days1 > days0)          {more[0] = more[1];}  return (more[0]); } 

dates result[num] = larger(dates user[num]); 

what's intended do? dates result[num] declares array of dates. (but each dates contains 1 date, confusing.) despite being array, it's initialized single object, return value larger. argument larger, dates user[num], appears declaring user, variable exists. looks you're trying clarify compiler user array of dates, dates doesn't go there , [num] appears indexing array, don't want.

probably want is

dates result = larger( user ); 

also there serious style issues cause trouble later:

• array types function parameters in dates larger(dates[num]); converted pointers. on line, num nothing , declaration same dates larger( dates * );. despite teachers may say, pointers , arrays not same thing. when distinction important, style causes confusion. use dates larger( dates * ) instead.

• it doesn't make sense capitalize dates. caps indicate preprocessor macro.

• preprocessor macros sledgehammer. using them simple numeric constants less elegant constructs const int num = 2; or enum { num = 2 };

• descriptive variable names input_limit , user_input better num , user.

• don't rely on uninitialized data. user[0].month might 6 after user defined not initialized. write value before reading.

• braces should kept visible. grouping braces closely first , last words of loop hides them, if think they're ugly, it's very easy incorrectly add line loop, producing hard-to-debug flow control error.