functions returning pionters to functions

[stevens at inuxh.UUCP]

>	The declaration 'int (*ptr)()' defines 'ptr' as a pointer to
>	an integer function. What you want to do is replace 'ptr' with
>	your function definition of 'getroutine(name, table)', thus
>	giving 'int (*(getroutine(name, table)))()' which defines
>	getroutine as a function with two arguements which returns a
>	pointer to an integer function (or function that returns an 
>	integer).
>
>	Note that 'ptr' was replaced by '(getroutine(name, table))'.
>	The enclosing parenthesis are necessary to bind the arguements
>	to getroutine before the * (pointer binding) is applied.

No, the parentheses around '(getroutine(name, table))' are not required.
function arguments `()' bind more tightly than pointer dereferencing `*'.
(K & R, p. 49 [the page my K & R falls open to]).

--
Scott Stevens
AT&T Consumer Products Laboratories
Indianapolis, Indiana
UUCP: inuxh!stevens