char* to string^ conversion

[nirVaan]

hi

i have linked list in which the node holds a char* to represent a string linked list is done using native code but for me to display it in a text box i have to make it a String^ but the problem is im able to insert the string value to this char* using the following coding

IntPtr p = Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(txtName->Text);
char* pAnsiansiName = static_cast<char*>(p.ToPointer());
list->appendNode(pAnsiansiName,pio,jobID);

here list is the link list and pAnsiansiName is the char*

when debugging i see that the string ivalue is actually inserted in to

void LinkedList::appendNode(char* na,char p,int j)
{
Node* n=new Node();
n->jobID=j;
n->name=na;
n->piority=p;
n->percent=0;
n->status='q';

Node* temp_node;
temp_node=front;

........

n->name actually receive the string but later on i cant take it back it just shows some wired character. i tried many ways at last i did this

System::String^ getName()
{
gcroot<String ^> myString;
myString = gcnew String(this->name);

return myString;

}

this is implemented inside the link node
when debugging i see that the this->name hold some wired characters
but when i use it like this

System::String^ getName()
{
gcroot<String ^> myString;
myString = gcnew String("my name");

return myString;

}

it works. so it seems some this is wrong with this->name seems it cant retain its value may i have a work around for this please.its urgent

thankz

[JamesSchumacher]

The char array assigned to n->name is probably not NULL terminated if you are seeing weird characters.

You need to append a NULL char to all char arrays. (0 or '\0')

Otherwise... The following WOULD work.

char * pData = new char[128];

::strcpy(pData,"This is some test data."); // This char array has an implicit null character

String ^ gcString = gcnew String(pData);

delete [] pData;

MessageBox::Show(gcString);

[CJ1]

Your code is not clear. If name is a native char * then you need to convert from String back to char * like this:

   char* str2 = (char*)(void*)Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(managedString);       
   strncpy(destNativePtr, str2); // Or whatever you want
   Marshal::FreeHGlobal(str2); // Required

StringToHGlobalAnsi() allocates memory for you that needs a call to FreeHGlobal() in order to release it.