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freeing memory

Started by element2001 4 replies 600+ views
Original Post
element2001
element2001
how does one go about freeing memory taken up by an array of pointers for example: char* text[4096]; I didn''t dynamically allocate the memory for it, so how do I then free it?
Null and Void
Null and Void
quote:
Original post by element2001
I didn''t dynamically allocate the memory for it, so how do I then free it?

If you didn''t allocate anything, you don''t have to free anything.

element2001
element2001
K thanks, the only reason I ask is because system resources drop when the program is running, but when it is closed they don''t return. For example lets say my sys resources are at 80%, then drop to 74% then stay at 74% when the program is closed. But when any other application runs and is closed the system resources return back to 80%, so it seemed as if I was doing something wrong in not freeing up the RAM
SilentCoder
SilentCoder
You are probably doing something wrong, but that is not it. You only need to worry about freeing memory that was dynamically allocated.
a person
a person
most likly some gdi resources that are not being freed. make sure when using gdi resources (HBITMAPS, HFONTS, etc) that you always DeleteObject() them.


  
// proper way to select gdi object and to delete it

// so you got something like

HBITMAP myBmp = CreateBitmap();
HDC myDC = CreateCompatibleDC();
HBITMAP = oldBmp;
// save old bitmap handle, otherwise we cant properly delete

// our bitmap

oldBmp = (HBITMAP)SelectObject(myDC, myBmp); 

// later on when done with the bitmap and the dc

SelectObject(myDC, oldBmp);
DeleteObject(myBmp);
DeleteDC(myDC);

// if you select mulitple bmps into the dc

// then you only save the first one, since that is the default

// HBITMAP that windows creates/deletes when a HDC is

// created/deleted


hopefully that makes sense. now on to your array of pointers which i assume you

  
for(i=0; i<4096; i++)
{
     //if created with malloc

     free(text[i]);
     // or if new''d

     delete text[4096];
}


the actual array gets freed when the app exits since it is actually stored in the executable data section, and is never actually allocated.

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