'C for Dummies' getchar() function not working

Question

I'm currently in the very early stages of learning C programming and am working my way through "Beginning Programming with C for Dummies" using Code::Blocks. The first activity in Chapter 7, Fetching characters with getchar(), asks us to copy the code exactly as it's presented in the book; see below:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()    
{
    int c;

    printf("I'm waiting for a character: ");
    c = getchar();
    printf("I waited for the '%c' character.\n", c);
    return (0);
}

The output I get is:

I'm waiting for a character:

However according to the book, the output that I should be seeing is the character's ASCII code value. It then asks that I change the %c placeholder to %d to display the value, but still I get the same outcome as before. I could probably recite the code with my eyes closed I've checked it through that may times; I simply cannot see where I'm going wrong.

Am I right in thinking that the getchar() function isn't being recognized? Or that the code isn't being read after the first printf statement? Any guidance is welcome as I don't want to move on until I've understood the problem.

After you see I'm waiting for a character:, do you type in a character? — Gaurav Sehgal
– Gaurav Sehgal, Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 5:38
try printf("I'm waiting for a character: ");fflush(stdout); — BLUEPIXY
– BLUEPIXY, Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 5:40
Notes: int main() is a deprecated signature. Use prototype-style declarations: int main(void) (for all functions, not just main). return is not a function, but a statement. Don't use parentheses around the argument, this can result in strange error messages for typos. The function-syle was used for K&R C, today it is more of a bad habit. — too honest for this site
– too honest for this site, Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 5:45

Jitendra · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-21 06:08:30Z

1

Please enter any key, then 2nd printf will show the result. getchar() is expecting input from user, controller reach at 2nd line & waiting for input.

answered Dec 21, 2016 at 6:08

Jitendra

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