How to return a multidimensional character array from a function in a header file in C -

i have main file, , header file.

in main file, want return 2d char array char function header file. char function following:

char character_distribution(int length, char redistribution[length][2]) {         char *buffer, distribution[256][2] = {0};         long lsize;         struct bar result = funct();         buffer = result.x;         lsize = result.y;         length = collect_character_distribution(buffer, lsize, distribution);         reorganize_character_distribution(length, distribution, redistribution);          return redistribution; } 

and main function follows:

#include <stdio.h> #include "character_distribution.h"  void main() {         int length;         char distribution[length][2];         distribution = character_distribution(length, distribution[length][2]);         int a;         for(a = 0; < length; a++)         {                 printf("%c\n", distribution[a][0]);         } } 

when run code, following error:

warning: return makes integer pointer without cast 

how can fix problem?

void character_distribution(int length, char redistribution[][2]) {     char *buffer, distribution[256][2] = {0};     long lsize;     struct bar result = funct();     buffer = result.x;     lsize = result.y;     length = collect_character_distribution(buffer, lsize, distribution);     reorganize_character_distribution(length, distribution, redistribution); } int main() {     int length = 2; //initialize     char distribution[length][2];     character_distribution(length, distribution);     int a;     for(a = 0; < length; a++)     {         printf("%c\n", distribution[a][0]);     }      return 0; } 

if have return 2d array, 1 way (easy way) put in struct

struct distribution_struct {     char x[256];     char y[2]; }; struct distribution_struct character_distribution(int length, char redistribution[][2]) {     struct distribution_struct dis;     //initialize struct values      //return struct  } 

and way manually allocate memory 2d array in function , return

char** character_distribution(int length, char redistribution[][2]) {      //use malloc create array , loop populate  }